Klingberg is still recovering from hip surgery in January while Giordano has reportedly been training in the Greater Toronto Area in hopes of returning to the NHL.
Klingberg is still recovering from hip surgery in January while Giordano has reportedly been training in the Greater Toronto Area in hopes of returning to the NHL.
Two former Toronto Maple Leafs — currently unrestricted free agents — are still looking for a home as the NHL season begins.
Defensemen Mark Giordano and John Klingberg didn't sign with any of the NHL's 32 clubs this past summer, but according to The Athletic's Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun, both remain intent on playing this year.
Giordano, who just turned 41 last week, has garnered some interest from NHL clubs looking to add depth to their blueline.
"Giordano spent the summer skating with Toronto-based NHLers and has continued to train since they dispersed for training camp. He’s pushed himself particularly hard in on-ice sessions while trying to fend off Father Time and work his way back to a league where 39-year-old Ryan Suter of the St. Louis Blues is currently slated to be the oldest skater," Johnston and LeBrun wrote.
"The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are among those seen as appealing possibilities."
Klingberg's situation is a bit different. The 32-year-old had double hip surgery in January and is still working his way back to full health. And once completely healthy, the defenseman wants to get back to playing again.
"The right-shot defenseman is skating in the Greater Toronto Area as part of an extensive rehab program. While there is no firm timetable on when he’s expected to be ready for NHL action, there is hope his health will allow it at some point in the new year," Johnston and LeBrun report.
"Klingberg is eligible to sign a performance bonus-laden one-year contract that reduces the risk being taken by an interested team because he’s a veteran of more than 400 NHL games who spent more than 100 days on injured reserve last season."
Klingberg joined Toronto on a one-year, $4.15 million contract in July 2023. The defenseman played 14 games with the club, scoring five assists in that span, before ultimately getting hip surgery.
Giordano signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Maple Leafs in May 2022 after being acquired by Toronto ahead of the NHL trade deadline in March 2022. The veteran defenseman of over 1100 games played 144 games with his hometown team, registering nine goals and 36 assists in the three years he was in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs made multiple additions to their defense this summer by signing Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jani Hakanpaa, Philippe Myers, and Dakota Mermis.
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