Insider Darren Dreger names 'front runner' $3.8 billion NHL team interested in reunion with defenseman John Klingberg

John Klingberg is close to returning to the NHL after recovering from hip resurfacing surgery. Several teams are interested in signing him. NHL insider Darren Dreger shared details about Klingberg’s situation on TSN’s show Insider Trading.

"Yeah, there’s a lot of interest, but they’ve narrowed the field a little bit." Dreger said, "I would say that five to seven teams are now in the mix for the return of the veteran right-shot defenseman.

Dregger spoke about Klingberg's progress in recent weeks and said:

"It’s been a long road of recovery, but in the last couple of weeks, he’s really amped it up. He’s been skating on a daily basis. He feels good. So the next step in his process is to identify the team that he wants to play with, sign a contract at least for the remainder of the year, and then push it forward."

Dreger said that the Maple Leafs, valued at $3.8 billion by Forbes, were the frontrunner to sign the defenseman, with the Edmonton Oilers possibly being second in line to sign Klingberg. .

John Klingberg's career so far

John Klingberg, 32, had a strong career start with the Dallas Stars, putting up over 40 or more points in six of his first eight seasons. However, after Miro Heiskanen’s rise, Klingberg’s role in Dallas had reduced. He hoped for a larger contract in 2022, but it didn’t work out.

Klingberg then signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks. He played 50 games, scoring 24 points, but struggled defensively on a poor team. Klingberg was traded mid-season to the Minnesota Wild and then signed by the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2023.

Unfortunately, injuries limited his play, and he only appeared in 14 games before needing hip surgery. John Klingberg is finally set to return to the ice and it will be interesting to see which team he lands up with.