Toronto Maple Leafs D-man John Klingberg is on LTIR and awaiting clarity on his injury, so who could the team pursue to boost their right defense?

On Monday, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving indicated to reporters he's awaiting clarity regarding John Klingberg's hip injury.

With the 31-year-old defenseman currently on long-term injury reserve, Treliving needs to know how long he'll be sidelined. The Toronto Star's Kevin McGran wrote that will determine if Treliving needs to find another blueliner as well as how much cap space he'll have to do so.

The Leafs have already exceeded the salary cap with Jake Muzzin ($5.625 million) and Matt Murray ($4.687 million) out for the season. However, they have $3.109 million in cap space with Klingberg and blueliner Timothy Liljegren also on LTIR. 

If Klingberg is also done for the season, Treliving will have the flexibility to pursue a replacement even if Liljegren returns to action.

It's rumored Treliving was quietly shopping around for blueline depth before Klingberg and Liljegren were sidelined. McGran indicated the Leafs are reportedly interested in Calgary Flames rearguards Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev.

Treliving knows both players well from his tenure as Flames GM. Zadorov recently requested a trade, and his agent indicated that his client has an interest in coming to Toronto.

Zadorov, however, is a left-shot defenseman, while the Leafs have a need for a right-handed shot such as Tanev.

TSN's Darren Dreger recently noted the Leafs' rumored interest in Tanev. He also suggested former Leaf Ilya Lyubushkin of the Anaheim Ducks, as well as the Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Walker and Columbus Blue Jackets' Andrew Peeke, as trade options.

Dreger previously mentioned Walker as a possible trade candidate, given the Flyers' interest in building up their foundation for the future. Peeke also surfaced in the rumor mill back in October as the Blue Jackets sought to free up a logjam on their blueline.