Obviously the injuries hurt the D and everyone knows about the cap allocation to the big 4.Actually Toronto is spending a league-wide high in forwards and proportionally the least in defence and goaltending.
So yes missing on a Klingberg hurts but what also hurts is when two another regulars go down injured ( McCabe / Lilly ) and another’s play takes a sharp dive (Brodie).
It's not really relevant to the conversation though. Our defense was set up this year to be cheap but that doesn’t mean it had to be bad. Our #3 (McCabe), #4 (Lily), and #5/6 (Gio) are all on very cheap deals and quality players in their roles.
We had an opportunity to really shore up the depth but instead wasted 4.15 on a guy who can't be trusted to play ES minutes even when your into your 8th and 9th dmen on the depth chart being forced into action.
Lagesson got 5 minutes more ice than Klingberg last game - in a game we were trailing, and he's the definition a pro depth guy.