John Klingberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Klingberg
Klingberg with the Dallas Stars in March 2022
Born	(1992-08-14) 14 August 1992 (age 32) Gothenburg, Sweden
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Edmonton Oilers Frölunda HC Jokerit< Skellefteå AIK Dallas Stars Anaheim Ducks Minnesota Wild Toronto Maple Leafs
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	131st overall, 2010 Dallas Stars
Playing career	2010–present

John Andersson Klingberg (born August 14, 1992) is a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He plays as a defenceman, which means he helps protect his team's goal. He currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL), one of the biggest hockey leagues in the world! The Dallas Stars picked him in the 2010 NHL Draft. John also has an older brother, Carl Klingberg, who plays hockey too.

John Klingberg's Hockey Journey

John Klingberg started playing hockey when he was very young in Sweden. He joined the Frölunda HC program, a well-known hockey club. He made his first big league debut in Sweden's top league (Elitserien) with Frölunda HC in 2010.

Joining the NHL Dream

In 2011, the Dallas Stars signed John to a contract, bringing him closer to playing in North America. Before joining the NHL, he played for teams like Jokerit in Finland and Skellefteå AIK in Sweden.

Klingberg with Jokerit in September 2011

In the 2013–14 season, John played really well for Frölunda HC, scoring 11 goals and 28 points in 50 games. After that, he moved to the American Hockey League (AHL) to play for the Texas Stars, which is a team connected to the Dallas Stars.

Making His NHL Debut

John started the 2014–15 season with the Texas Stars. Soon after, he was called up to play for the Dallas Stars in the NHL. He made his first NHL appearance on November 11, 2014, in a game where his team won 4–3 against the Arizona Coyotes. Just nine days later, on November 20, 2014, he scored his very first NHL goal against Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes.

John had an amazing first full season in the NHL. He scored the most points among all rookie defencemen that year. Because of his great performance, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, which is a special honor for new players.

Playoff Success and All-Star Games

In 2016, the Dallas Stars made it to the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. They won their first series against the Minnesota Wild but then lost to the St. Louis Blues. John played in 13 playoff games, scoring one goal and getting three assists.

John's excellent play continued, and he was chosen to play in the 2018 National Hockey League All-Star Game alongside his teammate Tyler Seguin. This is a big achievement, as only the best players get to be All-Stars. That season, he had his best year yet, scoring 67 points in 82 games.

In November 2018, John had hand surgery, which kept him off the ice for about a month. He came back in December and still managed to score ten goals and 45 points that season, even though he missed 18 games.

During the 2019 playoffs, John scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 6 against the Nashville Predators. This important goal helped the Stars move on to the next round!

Moving to New Teams

After the 2021–22 season, John became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team. He signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks in July 2022. He played well for the Ducks, leading their defencemen in goals and points.

In March 2023, John was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He played 17 games for the Wild, scoring two goals and seven assists.

In July 2023, John signed another one-year contract, this time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He started strong with five points in his first six games. However, he later had to stop playing due to a hip injury that required surgery. He missed the rest of the season because of this.

In January 2025, John signed with the Edmonton Oilers for the rest of the 2024–25 NHL season, starting a new chapter in his career.

Personal Life

John Klingberg was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. His father, Anders Klingberg, is also involved in hockey and used to coach a team in a Swedish youth tournament called TV-pucken. John has two brothers who play hockey: Carl Klingberg, who currently plays for Ilves in Finland, and Olle, who has now retired from playing.

Awards and Achievements