John Klingberg’s LTIR status gives Toronto Maple Leafs some flexibility

Matt Larkin was joined by Steven Ellis to talk about John Klingberg’s injury on the latest episode of Daily Faceoff Live.

Matt Larkin: You will not find a greater act of generosity than what John Klingberg has provided the Toronto Maple Leafs in the last 24 hours, he lands on LTIR. Robidas Island as they call it in these parts, $4.15 million off the books now for the salary cap. I thought that was a doomed signing from day one. I thought he was going to succeed Jake Gardiner and Justin Holl as the scapegoat, it seems like it has happened. Yes, the Leafs are going to get Conor Timmins back in the lineup but Steven, am I wrong to say the table is now set for a trade, maybe one of the names that’s been rumoured to be coming to Toronto?

Steven Ellis: Yeah, I don’t think they should make a move right away and now that Conor Timmins is back I’d like to see what he could be able to do. If he could play like he did in the preseason before he got hurt, maybe you don’t make a move and you just hold onto the cap space and see what you can do at the deadline. Although deadline moves have hurt the team over the last couple of years but the doom and gloom that we saw at the beginning of the month versus the wins against Detroit or Minnesota in Sweden and the win against Vancouver and beating Calgary before that.

They’ve been able to rally around and improve. I don’t think they need to make a big move and they need to figure out who is going to get the bulk of the starts in net. I like the idea of having two really good goalies but alternating them every other game, I don’t think that’s a way to get either goalie confidence or the mindset to be that guy you need. I question that signing from the beginning, we knew Klingberg from the hockey side of things was not that great but I don’t think anyone saw the physical part of his body being as bad as it was and obviously not a good situation for him personally. He just did the Leafs a huge favour right now just like Matt Murray did.

You can watch the rest of the episode here: