Klingberg gives encouraging update after first Edmonton Oilers practice
The Edmonton Oilers will have a new face on their blueline — eventually.
Fresh off of signing a cheap one-year deal with the Oilers last week, defenceman John Klingberg took to the ice at Rogers Place for his first practice with the team on Monday morning. The Swede wasn’t slotted in any of the three defensive pairs and was instead acting as the extra man on line rushes.
That shouldn’t last long. Oilers head Kris Knoblauch says Klingberg will be out for “at least a week” but that they are hoping to get him games before the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off break in February.
There were some obvious concerns with his health when the signing was announced, but the veteran defender gave a very promising update following his first Oilers practice.
“I feel incredible; I have way more motion and am not in any pain anymore,” Klingberg said. “The motion I have now is better than I can ever remember it to be, it’s just a matter of getting used to it and work through it.”
"I feel incredible. I have way more motion & not any pain anymore… I'm very happy to be here."
John Klingberg discusses his health & more following his first #Oilers practice today after signing with the team on Friday.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/clowyNSLrT
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 20, 2025
The interesting part of that interview is that Klingberg said that he feels better than ever. That is not an insignificant thing for a defenceman who once put up 67 points to say, so it should excite Oilers fans.
Klingberg is coming off some major hip surgery that has forced him to sit out the entire season to date. He spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he only appeared in 14 games due to injury. He jumped around on a few teams before that, including the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild, seasons that he admitted he was in pain for.
The offensive side of the puck is one thing, but what the Oilers could use is more defensive ability. That’s been a sore spot for Klingberg over the last few seasons, but he explained that his injury prevented him from getting the results he knew he could get.
“I had to react to what other players were doing with the puck, that’s what I feel like was really lacking [when injured],” Klingberg explained. “To be able to react to what players were doing, it was almost like I kept a little bit of a distance because I didn’t wanna give up a grade-A [scoring chance], and they got an easy zone entry.
“I’m pretty excited to be back and feeling like I can trust my skating again.”
There is a spot for the taking on the Oilers’ second pair beside Darnell Nurse, which is currently occupied by Troy Stecher. It seems likely that Klingberg will get a chance to prove his worth in that spot.
Knoblauch didn’t specifically say where he expected Klingberg to eventually slot in, but he did speak highly of the 32-year-old Swede.
“I think any time you can add a defenceman of that calibre, it’s an absolute no-brainer,” Knoblauch said. “I believe it’s going to be a very good investment for our team.”
It remains to be seen if Knoblauch slow-plays Klingberg in a third-pairing role to start, but the aim appears to be slightly higher for the player. Adding a healthy Klingberg capable of playing top-four minutes would be a game-changer for this team.
All the right things were said today; now we just have to see it play out on the ice.