TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday morning that the Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly interested in a reunion with defenceman John Klingberg.

The Maple Leafs originally signed the Swedish blueliner to a one-year deal worth $4.15 million back in the summer of 2023, pivoting after losing out on defenceman Mathew Dumba, who signed with the Arizona Coyotes. Klingberg was originally brought in to give him a chance to revive his career in a prime situation with a team whose offensive style meshed well with his game, but unfortunately for Klingberg, his short tenure with Toronto couldn’t have gone worse.

He appeared in only 14 games for the Maple Leafs in 2023-24, with his already well-known struggles away from the puck hampered by a hip injury that ended up costing his entire season when it was revealed that he would undergo surgery. He managed only five assists in those games despite Morgan Rielly offering up his spot on the top power play unit to try and get Klingberg’s game going. Suffice it to say, he was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) not even halfway through the season and didn’t suit up again for them.

The 32-year-old blueliner was once one of the better offensive defencemen in the league, with a knack for quarterbacking a power play and getting pucks on net, something that the Leafs are ironically struggling with at this stage of the season. His career-high in points came in 2017-18 when he notched 67 points in 82 games for the Dallas Stars.

His production has tapered off since then, with a few up-and-down seasons leading to him turning down an eight-year contract worth roughly $7 million annually, before firing his agent and signing a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks at the same price. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild at the deadline of that season and appeared in 21 total games for them before signing with the Leafs that offseason.

While most might shudder at the fact about bringing Klingberg back to Toronto, it makes sense that they’re at least kicking tires on him. There’s mutual familiarity, he would undoubtedly come in at or around league minimum, and there’s potential that he could help a power play that certainly can’t get any worse. Conor Timmins has been okay on the bottom pair, but his job probably isn’t secure enough to prevent the Leafs from poking around at replacements.

The Leafs will host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night and look to snap a two-game losing streak.