The defenseman is not expected to play for the team's final pre-season game even though he wants to.

John Klingberg is in a bit of a predicament.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman has not had a lot of reps at training camp due to an upper-body injury sustained early in the pre-season and he feels he still has a lot to learn from his new team.

Although he is healthy enough to play in Toronto's final tune-up game on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings, Klingberg is likely not to take part due to doctor's orders.

"I understand both sides of it," Klingberg said. "Obviously, thinking that playing tomorrow wouldn’t be a problem but it could also be stupid to do something that makes me lose even more time. So I’m going to listen to the doctors here and take it day by day.

The 31-year-old explained that although he appeared to have been injured early in his second pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres on Sep. 27, the ailment originated two days prior in his first game against the Ottawa Senators. What was initially a bruise got worse as he tweaked it against the Sabres.

Due to the setback, Klingberg has had to use practice and film as his only means of getting acclimated under Sheldon Keefe's system.

"The practices are huge. Huge for the team," Klingberg said. "A bunch of new guys here trying to learn the system and get a feel for each other out there on the ice."

After splitting last season between the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild, Klingberg signed a one-year, $4.15 million contract with the Leafs in July. When speaking to reporters following his signing, he admitted that his defensive game needs some work.

At camp, he's been trying to use his time on the ice effectively to use his strengths as a means of helping with his weaknesses.

"More body positioning, having a good gap, great stick and then it comes with trying to break the puck out clean every time," Klingberg said. "That is going to make me spend more time in the O-zone."

And the offensive part of his game is where the Maple Leafs hope he can thrive. When he has been healthy, the Leafs have utilized Klingberg as the quarterback on the top power-play unit. The Swede had 10 goals 23 assists in 67 games last season.

Klingberg was back skating on a defensive pair with Jake McCabe and that duo appears to be locked for the regular season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 11.

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