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Concerning update hints at setback when it comes to John Klingberg

Will the Swedish native be able to play in the Global Series?

HockeyFeed

HockeyFeed

With the Toronto Maple Leafs in Sweden to take part in the NHL's Global Series, it appears as though they'll have to make due without a Swedish member of the team.

According to head coach Sheldon Keefe, defenseman John Klingberg's chances of playing against the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild aren't good. He's been dealing with a persisting injury, and the long flight overseas didn't do him any favors. 

"He just wasn’t ready to go today. We think there is a chance he could be on the ice on Friday, but of course, I would say his chances of playing on Friday are low right now just given the fact that he hasn’t skated since the game the other night," he said. 

Klingberg is in his first season with the Leafs after having split last year between the Anaheim Ducks and Wild. In the 14 games that he's skated in this year, he's averaged 20:33 of ice time while registering four assists. He didn't play against the Calgary Flames on Friday before returning on Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks. 

"We are hoping to use this time, with the gap in between, to give him the time to heal and also have some aggressive treatment with him to really help. That has taken longer than thought, but the expectation or hope is that once he gets over the hump, he will be feeling better."

"He just wasn’t feeling right to get on the ice today. I don’t think the long flight did him any favours coming over here, either."

The Leafs take on the Red Wings on Friday, followed by the Wild on Saturday. 

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