John Klingberg has found his game with the Edmonton Oilers

John Klingberg has found his game in the NHL for the first time in a while. After dealing with a serious hip injury in Toronto, Klingberg signed with the Edmonton Oilers in January. This provided him with an opportunity to prove that he can stay in the NHL.

After a rough start with the Oilers, Klingberg has significantly gotten better in the playoffs. He is running smooth breakouts and providing some extra offence. Do you think Klingberg can keep up his positive play?

Klingberg fits in with the Oilers

Looking at the style of play John Klingberg possesses, it would make sense that he fits in with the Oilers. He is an offensive-minded defenceman who brings some veteran experience to the roster. His last couple of playoff games have shown how he can be a benefit in the Oilers’ lineup. He provides a boost to the second power play unit and has become the second-best right-handed shot defender on the team. He is a better choice than Troy Stecher, Ty Emberson, and Josh Brown. This signing was much needed, at least for this playoff run. Especially when Mattias Ekholm went down with an injury that has kept him out of the playoffs.

Klingberg made his playoff debut this season in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings. Even though the team lost 6–2, Klingberg helped get the Oilers on the board when he set up Leon Draisaitl. For the remainder of the first round, Klingberg locked it down alongside his defensive partner, Jake Walman. He finished the series with a plus three rating, two assists, and 11 shots on goal. The Oilers’ defensive core has been making a difference in the playoffs.

For a defenceman who supposedly struggles in the defensive zone, Klingberg has only been on the ice for two goals against in the playoffs. It truly seems like Klingberg has found his game; he looks more like the defenceman who was the face of the Dallas Stars for so many years. If the Oilers can continue to bring the best out of Klingberg in the playoffs, he will be the missing piece of their defensive structure.

Klingberg brings valuable experience

John Klingberg had many long playoff runs with the Dallas Stars. His most notable run was in the 2020 playoff bubble when the Stars lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. Klingberg was a main piece for the Stars in that memorable playoff experience. He had 21 points in 26 games, including two game-winning goals.

Klingberg had multiple good runs with the Stars, but was never able to achieve that final goal. He went on to have a playoff run with the Minnesota Wild, which ended in the first round. Afterwards, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the hope of chasing a Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, his long-term injury held him to just 14 games played. The 32-year-old is healthy and ready to go on a serious run with the Oilers.

Since then, Klingberg has failed to advance past the first round until this season. The defenceman chose well when he was selecting a team to sign with. He joins an Oilers team that is potentially a favourite to win the Stanley Cup. The only issue falls in net with Stuart Skinner. Thankfully, Calvin Pickard has been exceptional, holding a current 6–0 record in the playoffs.

The future of Klingberg may be good

Looking at how disastrous last season was with his injury, some may forget that John Klingberg is not that old. He is only 32, which is not considered “too old” to play in the NHL. The only negative on Klingberg is that he is prone to injuries. Other than that, he still has a lot more to give. Do you think the Oilers should consider signing Klingberg to an extension in the offseason?

Considering his past injuries, Klingberg would be a cheaper option for the Oilers’ blueline. With Evan Bouchard needing a massive extension after this year, management will need to keep some cheaper players on the roster. This is where Klingberg can slide in as a cheap second-pair defenceman. He can step in as the quarterback of the second power play unit, where he is phenomenal at keeping pucks in and getting shots through.

The Oilers are in win-now mode, and so is Klingberg. He may only have three or four NHL seasons left, so winning is at an all-time high. Klingberg recorded another assist in game two against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers went on to win in overtime, taking a commanding 2–0 series lead heading back to Edmonton. Game 3 of this second-round series takes place on Saturday night.

Do you think John Klingberg has found his game in Edmonton?

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