“He’s a gifted player” – John Klingberg signs one-year contract with Anaheim Ducks
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John Klingberg
Swedish ice hockey defenceman John Klingberg agreed to a one-year contract (financial terms were not disclosed) with the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. The 29-year-old Klingberg had 47 points (six goals, 41 assists) in 74 regular-season games for the Dallas Stars and one assist in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games last National Hockey League (NHL) season.
The Gothenburg native Klingberg, who has 374 points in the League, 148 have come on the power play (39.6 percent). The Ducks were however ranked 14th with the man advantage last season (21.9 percent), but was last in 2020-21 (8.9 percent) and 30th in 2019-20 (14.7 percent).
“We are extremely excited to add John to our group,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said, as quoted by NHL.com. “John is a gifted player who can quarterback a power play and give us needed scoring from the blueline. He also adds veteran leadership and character to our team.”
“Always want to stay here”
The Ducks will be hoping that Klingberg can boost an offense which ranked 24th in scoring last season (2.78 goals per game). This has always been a concern for them as they were miserably ranked last in 2020-21 (2.21), 29th in 2019-20 (2.56) and last in 2018-19 (2.39).
“At the end of the day, I always want to stay here,” Klingberg said. “This is the only team I’ve been talking to, obviously. With [Stars general manager Jim Nill], and on our side, we’ve been trying to find different ways to get it done. Year length, money-wise, just trying to get something we’re both happy with.”
“I’d love to keep him,” Nill said on May 7. “But he’s got to look out for himself too, so I fully understand that. So we’ll see if we can figure something out.”
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Sachin Arora
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