Former Leafs Defenseman Eyes NHL Comeback After Long-Term Injury, per Elliotte Friedman
It's been over 400 days since John Klingberg has played an NHL game but according to Elliotte Friedman, the defenseman is looking to make a comeback.
It's been a long while since John Klingberg stepped on the ice in an NHL game, and the former elite offensive defenseman has struggled with getting back to form, and having to undergo surgery in order to get healthy.
But he hasn't let his career derailment deter him however, as the Swedish blueliner is looking to make an NHL comeback according to Elliotte Friedman during his 'Saturday Headlines' segment on Hockey Night in Canada.
John Klingberg's Hopeful Career Resurrection
There was a time when Klingberg would take the ice and strike fear into the hearts of the opposition. Finishing fifth in the Calder Trophy and being named to the All-Rookie team in 2014, he started his career with a bang.
He continued his torrent pace and improved on his rookie year, and started a streak where he had at least 45 points for a solid four straight seasons including a blazing 67 point effort in 2017-18.
Although he's a fairly big defenseman, he doesn't play too much of a defensive game and focuses primarily on adding offense at the back end. If he wants to make a return, any team should figure out who best can handle a player who will be pinching a lot and possibly adding more giveaways through aggressive play.
His surgery was the same that helped fix Patrick Kane's ailing hip and turned the former phenom into a reliable and stable veteran who is still able to move around fluidly on the ice and he's hopeful that he can at least get back to a comfortable pace.
It's unknown if there are any suitors for Klingberg, however his experience, offensive potential and playoff production should entice some teams to at least take a flyer on the Swede.
One issue that might hinder his ability to get back into the league is his age. He's 32 and coming off serious hip surgery; unlike Matt Murray who had a team to turn to it'll be harder for Klingberg to secure a deal right away.
All in all, while it may be a bit before we see John Klingberg back in action, it's a great sign that he is trying to get healthy and attempt a comeback given his immense talent and once dominant playstyle.
The only question is will any team take a risk after such a serious injury?
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 21 | 1130 ANSWERS Former Leafs Defenseman Eyes NHL Comeback After Long-Term Injury, per Elliotte Friedman Do you think John Klingberg will return to the NHL this season? | ||
| Yes | 279 | 24.7 % |
| No | 851 | 75.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
