Why Klingberg Isn’t Surprised By Karlsson’s Comeback

John Klingberg isn’t surprised by the renaissance of Erik Karlsson.

Through 14 games, Karlsson leads all NHL defensemen with 10 goals and 19 points.

It’s been five seasons since the Erik Karlsson has finished even in the top-15 in scoring from the blueline. This was after a remarkable seven-year run, from 2011 to 2018, where the Swede accumulated 110 points more than any other defender.

While Klingberg couldn’t have predicted Karlsson’s record-setting pace to kick off the campaign, he knew over the summer that his countryman, beset by injuries over the last half-decade, was on the comeback trail.

Klingberg and Karlsson both work out with Gothenburg-based personal trainer Peter Fröberg during the summer.

“You can just tell that he was really excited to have a good year,” Klingberg told San Jose Hockey Now. “You can just tell that he was really into, when he was doing something, that he was actually focusing on it. Instead of just being halfway doing it, [he was] doing it for a purpose.”

It’s not to say that Erik Karlsson wasn’t focused during his off-season training in previous years. But Karlsson is clearly in a healthier and happier place in recent years.

Read the full article at NBC Sports Bay Area