Leafs' Klingberg to undergo season-ending hip surgery

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John Klingberg will undergo season-ending hip surgery at the end of December, general manager Brad Treliving announced Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.

The surgery will require a five-to-six-month recovery, Treliving added, per The Athletic's Jonas Siegel.

Klingberg has been out of the lineup since Nov. 11 and was placed on long-term injured reserve Nov. 23.

The Maple Leafs now have added flexibility to make a move with Klingberg's $4.15-million cap hit on LTIR for the remainder of the campaign. The club has been searching for help on the blue line, as it reportedly tried to land both Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames before the latter was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks.

Toronto is also without fellow blue-liners Timothy Liljegren and Mark Giordano for the foreseeable future.

Klingberg, 31, recorded five assists in 14 games with the Maple Leafs this season. He's been heavily criticized for his poor defensive play.

The Leafs signed him to a one-year deal as a free agent in the offseason.

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