The Toronto Maple Leafs are favorites to sign former All-Star defenseman John Klingberg, according to Darren Dreger.

Injuries usually pile up as a season progresses, which has been the case for the Maple Leafs — especially on the backend. Veteran defensemen Jake McCabe (upper body) and Jani Hakanpaa (knee) are currently on injured reserve, meaning it wouldn't be shocking if general manager Brad Treliving wanted to add another defender shortly.

Klingberg hasn't played an NHL game since being in the lineup for Toronto vs. the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 11, 2023.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

My Leafs analysis The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off back-to-back losses to Carolina and Vancouver, two playoff-worthy opponents, and have another top team in their way tonight in the Dallas Stars, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, free agent defenceman John Klingberg is nearing a return, and the Ottawa Senators are one of the teams that has expressed interest in signing the player. The 32-year-old right-shot defenceman has not played since being placed on long-term injured reserve on November 23,

The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly expressed interest in former Leaf John Klingberg. The Swedish defenceman hasn’t played an NHL game in over a year.

Dreger listed the Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Edmonton Oilers as key teams to watch as Klingberg nears a decision. The Maple Leafs originally signed Klingberg to just a one-