Realistic Projections For 2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs Newcomers
By Gordon Munro
ST LOUIS, MO – NOVEMBER 21: John Klingberg #3 of the Anaheim Ducks (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)John Klingberg
John Klingberg
Likely the most head scratching of all the signings the Toronto Maple Leafs made this summer, was John Klingberg.
Treliving signed Klingberg to a one year contract carrying a $4.15 million AAV. If Jake McCabe is the Jake Muzzin replacement it seems that Klingberg is the Tyson Barrie replacement from a few seasons ago.
Despite the ire this move drew from fans and pundits alike, Klingberg should be able to give the Leafs backend an offensive push.
If he can’t, then he likely won’t provide much else. Looking at his advanced numbers and the eye test, Klingberg is an offensive defenceman who greatly lacks in the defensive department. And while players like Erik Karlsson can play this way and come out ahead, Klingberg lacks that talent.
Even if the days where he showed up on a Norris Trophy ballot are far gone, he can still score. Over the past three seasons with the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild he has produced 116 points through 194 regular season games for a 0.6 PPG pace.
This doesn’t tell the whole story however, he has seen his production take a dip each of the last three seasons. He went from 0.68, down to 0.64, all the way down to 0.49 last season.
Given that alternate captain Morgan Rielly will likely continue to be the top unit powerplay quarterback, Klingberg likely slots in on the second unit. He most likely slots in on the Leafs third pairing as both Brodie and Liljegren are significantly better players who play the right side.
Klingberg will be 31 to start the regular season, which does not spark a lot of confidence with his declining offensive numbers and poor defensive numbers. If this signing is to not blow up in the Leafs face he will need to be more like his Stars version than the one we saw with the Ducks or Wild last season.