Maple Leafs place defenseman on LTIR

The team also recalled forward Alex Steeves from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. In 12 games with the Marlies, Steeves has 11 goals and seven assists for 18 games and is currently on an 11-game point streak.

Putting Klingberg on LTIR gives the team $4.15M in salary relief.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters on Thursday that Klingberg, who hasn’t played since their Nov. 11 game against the Vancouver Canucks, was “working through things to determine what’s next.”

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli said on social media that, while many have suggested Klingberg’s season is over, that’s not definitive yet.

“Leafs need more information on a path forward,” said Seravalli. “Rehab or surgery? Either way, he’s going to miss some time, hence the LTIR designation.”

He traveled with the team to his home country of Sweden for the NHL’s Global Series but did not play in either of the Maple Leafs’ wins vs. the Detroit Red Wings or Minnesota Wild.

Neither Klingberg nor the team revealed what the injury was, but many suggested it was related to his hip which he had two surgeries on earlier in his career.

In 14 games this season, the 2010 fifth-round pick has no goals and five assists. Klingberg also has the worst plus/minus on the team’s blue line with a minus-seven rating.

It’s been a difficult season for Klingberg with the Maple Leafs. Signing a one-year, $4M deal in the offseason, the right-handed defenseman was expected to bring some offensive flair. Klingberg started the season on the Maple Leafs’ first power-play unit but was replaced by Morgan Rielly.

Klingberg was at his offensive best during his time with the Dallas Stars, scoring 10 goals and 48 assists for 58 points in 2015-16, as well as a career-high 59 assists and 67 points in 2017-18.

He was an integral part of the Stars’ 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff run, scoring four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 26 games, averaging 23:20 of ice time.

In 10 NHL seasons, Klingberg has 81 goals and 331 assists for 412 points in 633 career games.