TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe wants you to know that John Klingberg‘s first scratch as a Toronto Maple Leaf is an unhealthy one.
Before fielding any questions Friday morning, the head coach announced that Jake McCabe would return to the lineup, after missing six games with a groin injury, to face the Calgary Flames, and that the struggling Klingberg would not play.
Why not?
According to Keefe, Klingberg has been “working through some injuries here the last little bit.”
How long has this been nagging at him?
“Quite a while here.”
Are these injuries related to the upper-body ailment Klingberg suffered in training camp?
“I don’t even recall that. I don’t think so,” Keefe replied.
The details are vague, the timing curious.
Klingberg was a full participant in practice Thursday and spoke openly about needing to play better following Wednesday’s disastrous dash-3 performance in Toronto’s 6-3 home loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Postgame, Keefe said the Leafs needed to protect Klingberg better. Yet the $4.15-million off-season acquisition is already starting a career-high 73.5 per cent of his shifts in the offensive zone and is generally steered clear of the opposition’s toughest forward lines.
The offensive defenceman doesn’t have a goal despite getting prime usage on the Leafs’ excellent top power-play unit and he has dipped to a minus-8, the worst mark among Toronto blueliners.
“I’m not happy with my performance either,” Klingberg told reporters Thursday. “Don’t feel like I’m moving my feet well. Not skating the way I can.”
Klingberg has admitted to pressing in the past when he feels his game slipping. He promised himself not to do that this time, to let the game come to him. But he’s in the mud, the analytics and eye test are his twin enemies, and he has swiftly become the fan base’s whipping boy.
“I don’t listen much to the noise on the outside. I put the most pressure on myself, and I need to be better,” Klingberg said.
And on the possibility of getting scratched: “Coach’s decision.”
Klingberg has made no mention of physical injury. Rest assured, there is a mental aspect at play here, too. A need to reset.
“I think it is eye-opening for people when they come here, how much this city, how much —sorry to blame you (media) guys — but how much you guys put on people,” Mitch Marner said. “He’ll find his comfort with this team.”
To that end, defence coach Mike Van Ryn has been the one investing plenty of time with Klingberg, trying to make GM Brad Treliving’s big free agency swing stick.
“They have worked on things through training camp in preparation for the season, and through the season, he has stayed with him. I have kind of let that be,” Keefe said.
However you want to dice up Klingberg’s troublesome start — between unspecified physical injury, poor play, or adjusting to a new system, market and team — the Maple Leafs can no longer let the status quo be.
Even if that means removing another right shot from their lineup (righties Timothy Liljegren and Conor Timmins are both on LTIR) against the Flames.
“Six left shots, so there’s some challenges there for sure,” Keefe said.
McCabe will patrol the right of Mark Giordano on the second pairing; McCabe has some experience playing his off side in Chicago, and the Leafs will lean heavily on him to stabilize a blueline that is both battered and leaky.
“He is just a veteran defenceman in the league. I don’t think he was thrilled with how he was playing before he got injured. I think he can play better than that. I think that he will,” Keefe said. “He is an important guy for us. Sometimes, these types of setbacks — injury or otherwise — end up helping guys,” Keefe said.
“I am hoping that will be the case when Jake gets back. He has worked hard through this time to use the time productively. He will be a welcome addition.
Maple Leafs’ projected lines Friday vs. Flames
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Bertuzzi – Tavares – Nylander
Robertson – Domi – Järnkok
Gregor – Kämpf – Reaves
Rielly – Brodie
Giordano – McCabe
Benoit – Lagesson
Woll starts
Samsonov
