Toronto Maple Leafs Place John Klingberg on Long-Term Injured Reserve

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made the decision to place defenseman John Klingberg on long-term injured reserve, following his recent injuries. Here are the key details:

Klingberg’s Last Game

• Klingberg’s last appearance was on November 11, during the Maple Leafs’ 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
• Coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned that Klingberg had been dealing with injuries in recent times, during a press conference on November 10.
• Throughout 14 games, Klingberg has contributed five assists.
• In July, the Maple Leafs signed the 31-year-old defenseman to a one-year contract worth an average annual value of $4.15 million.

Impact on the Leafs’ Salary Cap

With Klingberg now on LTIR, the Maple Leafs have approximately $3.3 million in cap space, as reported by CapFriendly. Currently, the team has five players on LTIR, and further moves may be expected. One recent move involved bringing up Alex Steeves from the Marlies, who has been performing exceptionally well with an 11-game point streak. Steeves could potentially provide offensive support and energy to the Leafs’ fourth line.

The next anticipated move will see Conor Timmins activated from LTIR before Friday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Timmins has been practicing with the team and is expected to contribute on the third pair and second power-play unit.

If Klingberg’s injury is severe or requires surgery, it could provide General Manager Brad Treliving with the opportunity to strengthen the team’s defense. Treliving previously acknowledged the need for defensive improvements after the Klingberg signing. A trade may be on the horizon to bolster the Leafs’ defense and address their current average of 3.41 goals against per game.

Replacement for Klingberg

Conor Timmins will step up in Klingberg’s absence, particularly in terms of offensive contributions. Keefe highlighted Timmins’ similarities to Klingberg in terms of strengths, emphasizing his mobility, puck movement, and offensive capabilities.

Timmins suffered a lower-body injury during the preseason but had shown promise before that. While his defensive game has room for improvement, his offensive skills will be valuable, especially with defenseman Timothy Liljegren also out. Timmins will likely receive opportunities on the power play to quickly adapt and contribute to the team’s success.

Additional Information

(Photo: Jerome Miron / USA Today)