Tag Archives: Klingberg

Edmonton Oilers do it again! Team signs big name d-man John Klingberg

Leave a reply


This in from Darren Dreger of TSN: “John Klingberg heading to the Oilers.”

Article content

Klingberg

My take

1. At the right price, in the $1 million range (and we still don’t have any contract details yet), the puck-moving Klingberg could be a win-win, with Klingberg slotting in next to Darnell Nurse on the second pairing, providing a steady puck-mover to complement Nurse’s speed and aggression. This would boost Edmonton’s chances of winning the Cup, not to mention Klingberg’s value as a free agent this summer.

Article content

2. Klingberg had hip resurfacing surgery in 2023 and has worked hard to get to this point. The Swedish d-man played just 14 games last year due to his injury and surgery. Toronto had signed him to a one-year $4.15 million contract, but the Leafs got little value from that deal.

Before his season was shut down for good in November 2023, Klingberg sat out games in Toronto. Luke Fox of Sportsnet wrote at the time: “He’s in the mud, the analytics and eye test are his twin enemies, and he has swiftly become the fan base’s whipping boy.”

3. Signing Klingberg does not limit the Oilers to just one move. They could also bring in a big, physical d-man at the March 7 trade deadline if that was still deemed to be a need. Edmonton can now test drive Klingberg for a month to see how he plays before having to make the call.

4. Before injury slowed him, Klingberg was a top-pairing, puck-moving right shot d-man with great offence and OK defence. He’s still just 32, and d-men who can skate as well as Klingberg has in the past often have solid years from ages 32 to 36 or so. At the same time, Klingberg’s injury history may limit his ability, even with surgery and rehab. Even before this recent procedure, he’d had two surgeries on his hip earlier in his career.

Article content

5. Edmonton has become a home to big name signings. The Oilers made such a move in 2022, signing Evander Kane when San Jose had had enough of him, with Kane becoming a key Oilers performer, especially in the playoffs.

Edmonton did it again in 2024, signing up veteran grinder Corey Perry when Chicago was fed up with him, with Perry playing decent two-way hockey for the Oil when healthy. Now there’s Klingberg coming to E-town. It’s an interesting experiment, though still hard to assess, not knowing contract details yet.

6. On X, my Cult colleague Bruce McCurdy notes that Klingberg had played with five Oilers previously: Mattias Janmark, 4 years in Dallas, Adam Henrique, 1 year in Anaheim, Mattias Ekholm, 3 separate World Men’s Hockey Championships, Viktor Arvidsson for Skelleftea in Sweden 2011-13 and with Corey Perry in Dallas in 2020.

6. Former Cult of Hockey writer Jonathan Willis had this to say on X: “The last time John Klingberg played an NHL season and finished above 50% by both GF% and xGF% was 2018-19. He’s now 32 and coming off hip surgery. If you’re counting on him to be a 3rd pair offensive specialist, that seems plausible. Don’t expect more, and be ready for less.”

P.S. In 2022, Klingberg reportedly turned down a big money offer in Dallas. All water under the bridge now…

Share this article in your social network



The Edmonton Oilers have done it again! The team has made a huge splash in the offseason by signing star defenseman John Klingberg to a contract. Klingberg, who previously played for the Dallas Stars, brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Oilers’ blue line.

With Klingberg on board, the Oilers now boast one of the most formidable defensive units in the league. His ability to move the puck, quarterback the power play, and shut down opposing forwards will be invaluable to the team as they look to make a deep playoff run.

Fans are buzzing with excitement over the signing, and many are already predicting big things for the Oilers this season. With Klingberg in the fold, the sky’s the limit for Edmonton as they aim to bring a Stanley Cup back to Oil Country.

Tags:

  1. Edmonton Oilers
  2. NHL
  3. John Klingberg
  4. Defenseman
  5. Free agent signing
  6. Edmonton Oilers news
  7. Hockey updates
  8. Edmonton Oilers roster
  9. Edmonton Oilers signings
  10. John Klingberg contract

#Edmonton #Oilers #Team #signs #big #dman #John #Klingberg

Oilers Expected To Sign John Klingberg

Leave a reply


The Oilers are nearing an agreement with unrestricted free agent defenseman John Klingberg, Darren Dreger of TSN reports Friday.

Edmonton was one of a few Canadian teams and a smaller handful south of the border to express interest in Klingberg over the past few weeks, according to earlier reporting from Dreger. The 32-year-old, who finished as high as sixth in Norris Trophy voting twice early in his career, hasn’t played in well over a year after undergoing season-ending hip resurfacing surgery with the Maple Leafs in December 2023.

Klingberg became an unrestricted free agent last summer after the one-year, $4.15MM deal he signed with Toronto in 2023 lapsed after just 14 appearances. As a player with at least 400 NHL games played who spent at least 100 days on injured reserve in the prior season, he’s eligible to sign a one-year contract with performance bonuses that could lower the initial cap hit of the deal.

As with any contract involving performance bonuses, the Oilers must have the cap room to accommodate any bonuses he may earn as part of his deal. If they don’t, any amount they exceed the salary cap will be applied as a bonus carryover penalty to their 2025-26 picture.

Thanks to Evander Kane’s continuing recovery from multiple surgeries, Edmonton should be in the clear with over $5MM in its LTIR pool. His availability for the rest of the regular season is in doubt after he underwent additional knee surgery earlier this month, carrying an eight-week recovery period and halting his rehabilitation from offseason abdominal surgery.

If he stays healthy, Klingberg serves as an early deadline pickup for the Oilers and takes some pressure off general manager Stan Bowman to give up assets for an additional right-shot defender. Edmonton’s left side of Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak have all averaged north of 20 minutes per game this season and done so with decent possession metrics, but the same can’t be said of depth righties Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher.

The Oilers needed another body to throw into the mix on either their second pairing alongside Nurse or their third pairing next to Kulak, and adding Klingberg gives them a far more offensively inclined option – albeit one that comes with significant defensive shortcomings. While still a serviceable power-play quarterback who posted five assists in last year’s injury-shortened campaign and has averaged more than 20 minutes per game in all of his 10 NHL seasons, his -60 rating between the 2021-22 and 2023-24 campaigns is sixth-worst among defensemen. In the 2022-23 season, which he split between the Ducks and Wild, he was on the ice for more expected goals against per game at even strength (1.13) than any other qualified defender in the league.

Edmonton will need to free up a roster spot to sign Klingberg officially. That will likely be demoting center Noah Philp or defenseman Josh Brown to AHL Bakersfield.

Klingberg will be a UFA again in months if his contract is a one-year pact, as expected. It will mark his third consecutive one-year deal after completing a seven-year, $29.75MM commitment with the Stars in 2022.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.



The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly in talks to sign defenseman John Klingberg, according to sources close to the team. Klingberg, who is currently a free agent, has been a key player for the Dallas Stars over the past several seasons.

The Oilers are looking to bolster their defensive lineup and Klingberg would be a valuable addition to their blue line. Known for his puck-moving skills and offensive prowess, Klingberg would bring a new dimension to the Oilers’ defense.

While nothing has been confirmed yet, fans are buzzing with excitement at the prospect of Klingberg joining the Oilers. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

Tags:

  1. Edmonton Oilers
  2. John Klingberg
  3. NHL
  4. Edmonton hockey
  5. Edmonton Oilers news
  6. Edmonton Oilers rumors
  7. John Klingberg contract
  8. Edmonton Oilers signings
  9. NHL free agency
  10. Edmonton Oilers defense

#Oilers #Expected #Sign #John #Klingberg

Veteran D John Klingberg signing with Oilers after long layoff due to injury

Leave a reply


Veteran defenceman John Klingberg is returning to the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports.

Klingberg was a free agent and has not played an NHL game since Nov. 11, 2023.

Dreger reported on Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading that several teams had interest in Klingberg, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. 

Klingberg spent last season with the Maple Leafs after inking a one-year, $4.15 million deal as a free agent earlier that summer. He had five assists and was a minus-7 in 14 games with the team before undergoing season-ending surgery on his hip.

Drafted 131st overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2010 draft, Klingberg has 81 goals and 412 points in 633 career games split between the Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Maple Leafs.

The Gothenburg, Sweden, native represented his country four times at the World Championship and helped his country win back-to-back gold medals in 2017 and 2018.



After a long period of recovery following a serious injury, veteran defenseman John Klingberg has officially signed with the Edmonton Oilers. The news comes as a welcomed surprise to fans who have been eagerly awaiting his return to the ice.

Klingberg, known for his impressive defensive skills and offensive prowess, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Oilers’ lineup. His presence is sure to bolster the team’s defense and provide a much-needed boost as they push towards the playoffs.

Despite the challenges he has faced during his recovery, Klingberg remains determined and motivated to make a strong comeback. His dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed, and his return to the ice is sure to be a triumphant one.

As Klingberg dons the Oilers jersey for the first time, fans can expect to see a player who is ready to give his all and help lead the team to victory. With his talent and determination, there’s no doubt that he will make a significant impact on the ice and leave a lasting impression on both his teammates and fans alike. Welcome back, John Klingberg!

Tags:

  1. John Klingberg Oilers signing
  2. Veteran defenseman John Klingberg
  3. NHL free agency news
  4. Edmonton Oilers latest signing
  5. John Klingberg injury update
  6. Edmonton Oilers roster addition
  7. John Klingberg contract details
  8. NHL defenseman news
  9. John Klingberg return to ice
  10. Oilers signing veteran defenseman

#Veteran #John #Klingberg #signing #Oilers #long #layoff #due #injury