Free-agent defenseman John Klingberg is hoping to latch on with an NHL team in late January, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Klingberg last suited up in November 2023 with the Toronto Maple Leafs before undergoing season-ending bilateral hip surgery the following month.
The 10-year NHL veteran is reportedly expected to resume skating with a junior team in late December. Klingberg has been skating with the same rehab team Patrick Kane used during his recovery from hip resurfacing surgery in 2023, Friedman noted.
Once viewed as one of the league's premier offensive defensemen during his prime with the Dallas Stars, Klingberg recorded a career-high 67 points and finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting in 2017-18. The 32-year-old also shined during the 2020 playoffs, helping Dallas make the Stanley Cup Final with 21 points in 26 contests.
However, Klingberg's game - especially defensively - deteriorated over the last few seasons, as he struggled mightily during brief stints in Anaheim, Minnesota, and Toronto.
The right-shot, 6-foot-3 defenseman has tallied 81 goals and 331 assists in 633 career NHL games.