Leafs D John Klingberg hits back at his haters

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John Klingberg isn't exactly interested in hearing what doubters of his game has to say. While he's never been known as the most defensively responsible blue liner in the National Hockey League today, he doesn't believe that he deserves the criticism that is often thrown his way.

As far as he's concerned, he's better defensively than his reputation might say.

"I don't think defensively I am (as bad as) people might say that I am, but it looks that way because I'm trying to do too much with the puck in D zone," he said. "So I think if I just know what to do with the puck before I get it and just make that simple, easy play in D zone and through the neutral zone it's going to take care of itself."

In his first season with the Leafs, he's registered a pair of assists but is also -2 in the plus/minus department. He's certainly aware of the deficiencies in his game the last few years, but he's wanting to put that behind him.

"With how the last few years have gone," Klingberg said. "I feel like I have to prove myself to the league and to a certain degree, with other people as well. I know what kind of player I can be. I've not been that kind of player the last few years."

He's in his first season with the Leafs after having split last season with the Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild after agreeing to come aboard over the summer; before that, he'd spent the first several years of his career with the Dallas Stars.

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