January 14, 2025 | 11:25am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
KLINGBERG INCHING CLOSER TO RETURN TO NHL
Getty Images
John Klingberg, defenceman
Veteran free agent defenceman John Klingberg has been rehabbing and training in Toronto since undergoing hip surgery in Dec. 2023 and is nearing full health and a possible return to the NHL.
Klingberg, 32, last played in the NHL in 2023 when he skated in 14 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs during first part of the 2023-24 campaign. He picked up five assists during that season.
The native of Gothenburg, Sweden, is hoping to return to the NHL this season and is eligible to sign with any club up until the March 7 trade deadline. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators are among the five-to-seven teams interested in Klingberg.
Klingberg's been training in/around Toronto in hopes of getting back up to speed and ready for NHL action again. Could be a solid depth add for a playoff-bound club. https://t.co/FjvhuBB8Zn
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) January 14, 2025
As Dreger also reported, a decision on his future is expected to be made in the next weeks.
Klingberg is likely to sign a pro-rated one-year contract worth around $1 million this season, and could look to extend his deal in the off-season depending on his performance.
In 633 career NHL regular-season games with the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Leafs, Klingberg has accumulated 81 goals and 331 assists for 412 points, along with 255 penalty minutes.