'It Kind Of Hit Rock Bottom Here The Last Few Weeks': Maple Leafs' John Klingberg Explains Injury That Has Kept Him Out of the Lineup
STOCKHOLM — John Klingberg is dealing with an injury of some type but did not reveal it when speaking to reporters on Friday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman will not be in the lineup when his team takes on the Detroit Red Wings in the first of their two games in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the NHL's Global Series and his status for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Wild is also in doubt.
"It’s the first time I’ve skated in a week or so I didn’t feel very good out there," Klingberg said. "Very stiff. A little bit of pain and not a lot of motion. We’ll get someone to work on it and see if I’m available for Sunday."
Klingberg played in the club's first 13 games of the regular season but was scratched for the club's 14th game with an injury. He returned for the club's 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 11.
Since that time, Klingberg has undergone aggressive treatment with the hope that the days between games would help rectify the defenseman's ailment. Klingberg has had many injuries throughout his career including a pair of hip surgeries in 2015 but did not reveal specifics.
"That’s why it’s a little bit different now because we went a little bit harder on it and see how it would respond to it," Klingberg said. "It's still pretty fresh into this treatment so we’ll see where it lands. Hopefully, I start feeling better soon.
"It’s always been there throughout my career but I’ve been able to deal with it and work through it. But it kind of hit rock bottom here the last few weeks. It’s something we’re trying to figure out here."
The Maple Leafs signed the 31-year-old defenseman to a one-year, $4.15 million contract but his season has gotten off to a rock start. Before he was scratched, Klingberg was on the ice for four goals in a 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 8.
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