John Klingberg, the defenseman acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs just 13 games ago — as part of an off-season signing meant to boost the power play and offense from the blue line — found himself as the seventh defenseman during the team’s recent practice session on Thursday. Klingberg, who has been struggling on the ice, was partnered with Conor Timmins, who was wearing a red non-contact sweater. This raised early indications that Klingberg might be a scratch in the upcoming game against the Calgary Flames.
During practice, the defensive pairings were as follows: Morgan Rielly with TJ Brodie, Mark Giordano with Jake McCabe, and Simon Benoit with William Lagesson, with Klingberg positioned as the seventh defenseman.
There is a consensus among fans that Klingberg’s performance has been subpar, making him a liability on the ice. Many are calling for Maple Leafs’ management, particularly general manager Brad Treliving, to recognize the situation and consider trading Klingberg to free up cap space, which currently stands at $4.15 million. This move could potentially allow the team to address other areas of need and strengthen their lineup.
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