Insider Provides Update on Playing Future of Former Leafs Defenseman John Klingberg
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has provided an update on the future playing career of former Maple Leafs defenseman John Klingberg.
When Leafs GM Brad Treliving signed the injury prone defenseman to a one-year deal in July of 2023, many questioned the decision given his constant health issues.
While Klingberg's tenure in Toronto started off fairly well with the Leafs, his past injuries quickly made the team regret the decision to sign the now 32-year-old.
After being placed on LTIR in mid-November last year, the Leafs eventually announcedthe Swedish defenseman would be out for the season after bi-lateral hip surgery.
Klingberg has not been skating and has stayed fairly quiet since having his hip surgery, but on the December 21st edition of 'Saturday Headlines', Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman provided a surprising update on the 2010 fifth-round pick.
"It has been more than 400 days since John Klingberg played in the National Hockey League. He was a Maple Leaf last year, and sometime just after Christmas, he is going to resume skating with a junior team. He has seen this hip surgeon that did Patrick Kane's hips. He is skating with the same people that brought Patrick Kane back and he does want to resume his career. He's looking at potentially joining a team after Christmas, likely closer to the end of January, but he is going to join a junior team first to skate and he is hoping to come back to the NHL."
As a number of teams are looking for blueline help as they battle with injuries, Klingberg could find himself back in the NHL ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, as Friedman suggested.
Given many of the contending teams typically look for defensive depth around the trade deadline, adding the 6'2, righty on what should be a 1-year, league-minimum deal would be an ideal route over trading away assets to acquire a defenseman.
Klingberg's chances of an NHL return will hinge on how well he is able to skate once he returns to the ice after Christmas. To this point, it has been a long road for Klingberg, but he has been able to closely watch Matt Murray make his way back to the NHL after almost two years away, so it should not be surprising to see Klingberg make his return at some point this season.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 23 | 2047 ANSWERS Insider Provides Update on Playing Future of Former Leafs Defenseman John Klingberg Would Klingberg be a good depth option for the Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 283 | 13.8 % |
| Not going there again | 1496 | 73.1 % |
| Maybe | 268 | 13.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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