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.
The situation has left many baffled as it took a long time for head coach Sheldon Keefe to finally shorten the extended leash given to Klingberg despite his struggles. The player has become a topic of intense scrutiny within the Maple Leafs fan base. And, as the team faces upcoming challenges and continues to struggle to consistently win hockey games, decisions regarding Klingberg’s role and future with the organization will undoubtedly be closely monitored.