Speaking with reporters on Thursday , Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said defenseman John Klingberg is “working through things to determine what’s next for him.”
The Maple Leafs have yet to disclose what type of injury Klingberg has. Some have speculated the team may put Klingberg on long-term injury reserve in order to save some money on the salary cap, but so far, no decision has been made.
Klingberg, 31, hasn’t played for the team since their 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 11. He traveled with the team to his home country of Sweden for the NHL’s Global Series but did not play in either of the Maple Leafs’ wins vs. the Detroit Red Wings or Minnesota Wild.
It’s been a difficult start for Klingberg with the Maple Leafs. Signing a one-year, $4M deal in the offseason, the right-handed defenseman was expected to bring some offensive flair. Klingberg started the season on the Maple Leafs’ first power-play unit but was replaced by Morgan Rielly after being unable to contribute offensively.
In 14 games this season, the 2010 fifth-round pick has no goals and five assists. Klingberg also has the worst plus/minus on the team with a minus-seven rating.
Klingberg was at his offensive best during his time with the Dallas Stars, scoring 10 goals and 48 assists for 58 points in 2015-16, as well as a career-high 59 assists and 67 points in 2017-18. He was an integral part of the Stars’ 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff run, scoring four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 26 games, averaging 23:20 of ice time.
In 10 NHL seasons, Klingberg has 81 goals and 331 assists for 412 points in 633 career games.
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