Defenseman John Klingberg is nearing a decision on where to sign for the remainder of this season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs remain among several teams expressing interest.
After having hip resurfacing surgery in late 2023, Klingberg has been working his way back to the NHL. The recovery process is not easy, but Patrick Kane is one player who has returned to the NHL after the procedure.
His last game played was with the Maple Leafs on Nov. 11, 2023, and, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie on the New Jersey Devils vs. Maple Leafs broadcast, a decision on where Klingberg will sign could come in the next couple of days.
“Well, it’s getting closer to a resolution. I would expect in the next day or two that Klingberg is going to sign with somebody on a contract for the balance of this season, incentive-laden in terms of re-establishing his game after the hip resurfacing that he went through,” the veteran NHL insider said.
“The Edmonton Oilers, the Dallas Stars, the Toronto Maple Leafs are three teams that are very much in the mix. Is Toronto a frontrunner? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that but they are in the mix and we are probably 24 to 48 hours from getting a resolution.
“He played 14 games for the Leafs but his hip was really bad at the time. He got the resurfacing done which is something Patrick Kane is one of the few guys that’s been successful in being able to come back from that. So Klingberg gets a chance to try and get back on the ice here with somebody, maybe the Leafs, in the next week.”
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday that five to seven teams are in the mix for Klingberg’s services, including Toronto, Ottawa, and Edmonton. He’s reportedly been skating with a junior team as he works his way back to the NHL.
Klingberg signed a one-year, $4.15 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1, 2023, after playing the 2022-23 season with the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. The defenseman played 14 games with Toronto — scoring four assists and averaging 20:33 of ice time — before undergoing hip surgery.
Klingberg has played 633 NHL games throughout his NHL career. He’s scored 412 points (81 goals, 331 assists) in that span, split between the Maple Leafs, Ducks, Wild, and Dallas Stars.
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