Report: John Klingberg's NHL career might be over

According to a report from NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, veteran defenseman John Klingberg is not close to returning to action and there are serious questions about whether or not he'll be able to continue his NHL career.

Klingberg, who is an unrestricted free agent, played just 14 games for the Leafs last season before undergoing season ending injury back in December. Since then there's been little talk of his future until Pagnotta's most recent report.

Check it out:

If this is indeed the end for Klingberg, he'll retire with a very respectable 81 goals and 412 points in 633 NHL games split between the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Read below for our earlier Leafs reports from today, published this morning.

According to reports from TSN Toronto Maple Leafs insider Mark Masters, it looks like Leafs defenseman turned pro scout Jake Muzzin has moved into a new role with the team.

Muzzin officially retired from the Leafs after the 2022-23 season and immediately accepted a scouting role with the Leafs. Today though Muzzin was seen on the ice working with the team's prospects at Development Camp, leading to speculation that the tough defender has moved into a development coaching role.

From Masters:

Honestly, I see this as a great fit for Muzzin. He's always been a respected leader on and off the ice and I imagine that he commands quite a bit of respect from these propects.

Read below for our earlier Leafs reports from today, published this morning.

According to a report from Toronto Maple Leafs insider Nick Kypreos, the Leafs were very close to trading superstar Mitch Marner to the Nashville Predators earlier this offseason. 

While discussing the Marner trade rumors for The Toronto Star, Kypreos reported that Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly made a personal appeal to GM Barry Trotz to acquire Marner in a blockbuster deal.

From Kypreos' latest column:

Prior to the Predators spending a whack of dough on free agents Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei, ex-Leaf Ryan O’Reilly did his very best to convince GM Barry Trotz to make a push and trade for Mitch Marner.

- Nick Kypreos

As Kypreos points out, the Predators have spent their salary cap cash on big name acquisitions like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei so a Marner deal seems unlikely at this point. Honestly though, I could have seen Marner really working out on this Predators roster. C'est la vie...

Read below for our earlier Leafs reports from today, published this morning.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced an ECHL affiliate agreement with the Cincinnati Cyclones. The team had previously been affiliated with the Newfoundland Growlers since 2018, but the Growlers folded this past season due to financial issues. The Toronto Marlies will remain the Leafs' AHL affiliate in 2024-25 and beyond.

Read below for the Cyclones' press release announcement:

CINCINNATI, OH - The Cincinnati Cyclones, in conjunction with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Toronto Maple Leafs, have announced a new affiliation agreement. The Cyclones spent the previous season as the affiliate for the New York Rangers, while the Maple Leafs were affiliated with the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers since 2018.

“We are thrilled to be associated with an organization with such a storied history as the Toronto Maple Leafs,” said Cyclones General Manager Vice President Kristin Ropp. “To partner with an organization that places value in the development of players from the ECHL through the AHL and into the NHL is truly exciting.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 13-time Stanley Cup Champions and have been regarded as one of the premiere NHL franchises since joining the league as an Original Six club in 1917. Toronto has enjoyed eight straight trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and plays out of the NHL’s Atlantic Division. 

"We are excited to embark on this new partnership with the Cincinnati Cyclones," stated Brad Treliving, General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "This is a significant investment for our hockey club as we look to provide our players with the best resources available to support their growth and professional development."

Since the 2006-07 season, the Cyclones have seen 28 of its players go on to play in the NHL and plenty more receive call-ups to the American Hockey League (AHL). Cincinnati’s new AHL affiliate will be the Toronto Marlies, who have been longtime partners with the Maple Leafs. The two NHL and AHL Toronto based clubs play just over two miles apart downtown with the Leafs skating at Scotiabank Arena and the Marlies playing out of Coca-Cola Coliseum.

“Being a Toronto Native, my foundation for the game of hockey was laid in that city,” said Cyclones Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Jason Payne. “The sport and Leafs Nation mean so much, to so many. It’s not just a part of life, it’s the way of life. I’m excited about the affiliation between our proud franchise the Cincinnati Cyclones and the Original Six Toronto Maple Leafs.”

The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team located in southern Ohio and have been a fixture in the pro sports landscape of Cincinnati, OH since 1990. The Cyclones compete in the ECHL and are the AA affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. Cincinnati is two-time Kelly Cup Champions, having been crowned kings of the ECHL in 2008 and 2010. The Cyclones host their home games at the Heritage Bank Center and compete in the league's Central Division.

Read below for our earlier Leafs reports from today, published this morning.

According to a report from Toronto Maple Leafs insider Adam Laskaris of The Daily Hive, the Leafs are embroiled in a bit of controversy with animal rights group PETA.

Laskaris reports that PETA president Ingrid Newkirk is calling on the Leafs to ditch their partnership with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario and to drop the iconic 'Milk' logo from their jerseys.

Newkirk's statement to Leafs CEO Keith Pelley via Laskaris:

If I'm honest, this entire diatribe from Newkirk only makes me hope that the Leafs double down in their support for Milk and for the Ontario Dairy industry... and I don't even drink milk.

Newkirk only shows herself to be woefully out of touch with hockey and its fanbase with this letter to Pelley. She makes the argument that because hockey is played on ice and because factory farming contributes to the melting of polar ice caps, the Leafs should ditch their partnership with Milk.

I mean... talk about a stretch.

This woman has no clue about the Leafs, their fans or hockey in general. If I'm Pelley and the Leafs, this is the easiest thing to ignore this entire offseason. Chock this up as just an angry person spouting off nonsense into the universe.