NHL Insider Reports Toronto Maple Leafs Gearing Up to Reunite With Former Defenseman
The potential return of John Klingberg to the Toronto Maple Leafs has started some significant discussion thanks to insights from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
On Saturday Headlines and during his appearance on The Fan Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman highlighted the Swedish defenseman's efforts to restart his NHL career after bilateral hip surgery.
Is John Klingberg headed back to the Toronto Maple Leafs
John Klingberg joined the Leafs on a one-year deal last season and saw his campaign cut short due to his severe hip injury.
Now, with the same surgeon and skating coaches who assisted Patrick Kane in his successful return, Klingberg is set to start skating again post-Christmas and according to Elliotte Friedman, Klingberg could be ready in about three weeks which is giving the Leafs a unique opportunity to monitor his progress closely.
Toronto's blue line has struggled offensively this season, with only seven goals scored by defensemen and none in December despite almost 100 shots.
Friedman hinted that if Klingberg's recovery is like Patrik Kane's resurgence, the Leafs could consider offering him a league-minimum deal.
This low-risk, high-reward scenario would greatly help their offensive capabilities from the back end.
However, the Leafs' LTIR situation with Calle Järnkrok and Jani Hakanpää sidelined can complicates any roster adjustments and Brad Treliving faces tough decisions regarding how assets are allocated, particularly as the team also needs reinforcements at center.
At his peak, Klingberg was a force on the Dallas Stars' blue line and surpassed 40 points in five consecutive seasons, including a career-high 67 in 2017-18.
However, injuries have limited him to just 81 games and 36 points over the past three seasons.
If Klingberg can refind his form, his return could provide the Leafs with much-needed offense from the back end.
However, the decision hinges on his recovery and the Leafs' ability to navigate their salary cap and it is making this a storyline to watch closely.
