John Klingberg

BIOGRAPHY

John Klingberg was born onAugust 14th, 1992 in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is a defenseman in the National Hockey League.

Klingberg was drafted 131st overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. He is the younger brother of Carl Klingberg. On 16 May 2011, the Dallas Stars announced that they had signed Klingberg to a three-year entry level contract. He was then loaned to the Finnish SM-liiga to play with Jokerit in the 2011–12 season before returning to Sweden midway through the campaign to Skellefteå AIK. In the 2013–14 season, Klingberg opted to play on loan with Frölunda HC, and produced a career high 11 goals and 28 points in 50 games. After post-season elimination, Klingberg was assigned to the Stars' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars, and played in three regular season games. In his first full North American season in 2014–15, Klingberg remained with Texas to begin the year. After being recalled by the Stars, he made his NHL debut in a 4–3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on 11 November 2014. Klingberg scored his first NHL goal on 20 November 2014, against Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes. Klingberg finished first in points among all rookie defenceman in 2014–15 and was named to the NHL all-rookie team. The Stars qualified for the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. They defeated the Minnesota Wild in the first-round before falling to the St. Louis Blues in the second. Overall, Klingberg recorded one goal and three assists in 13 games. After ranking first among NHL defencemen, Klingberg was named to the 2018 NHL All-Star Game, along with teammate Tyler Seguin. He finished the year with a career-high 67 points in 82 games. On 9 November 2018, Klingberg underwent hand surgery, sidelining him for at least four weeks. He returned on 20 December in a 5–2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite missing a total of 18 games, Klingberg recorded ten goals and 45 points. During the Stars' first-round match-up against the Nashville Predators in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, Klingberg scored the series-winning overtime goal in game six to advance. On 29 July 2022, as a free agent from the Stars, Klingberg signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

Leaving the Wild as a free agent, Klingberg joined his third club in short succession after he was signed to a one-year, $4.15 million contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs on 1 July 2023.