Josh Frojelin
John Klingberg didn’t know he suffered his first concussion in the moment.
“I guess it’s a good thing they have that spotting system,” Klingberg said. “Because they pulled me off and said, ‘It’s mandatory. [You have] to do it.’ Otherwise, I would have kept going. And that’s why I missed the last four minutes of that game.”
The 33-year-old defenseman missed time between the San Jose Sharks’ first preseason game and his return Oct. 1. While Klingberg has missed a considerable number of games because hip issues over the last two seasons, the Swedish defenseman wanted to clarify this injury was just bad luck.
“Honestly, my hips, it’s a work in progress,” Klingberg said. “When I missed time before the [last] playoffs, it was all because of this ankle. And now, when you’re out, everyone’s like, ‘Oh, typical Band Aid Klingberg.’ I took a hit to the chin. I never had a concussion before.”
Klingberg, in interviews, has been impressive with his sense of humor and self-awareness. But even he wasn’t aware of his concussion, and said he felt fine even during the in-game concussion testing.
“Then I did an interview with Brodie [Brazil] after [the game], and I could feel like I was out of it,” he said. “As I was driving home, I was a little off too. The next day, we were moving in a lot of stuff that came from the storage. I had to sit down for like, every 30-40 minutes just [to] get my brain in order… I could tell there’s probably something going on.”
Luckily, his first concussion was relatively minor.
“I felt fine after two, three days, and I just kept doing a lot of testing,” Klingberg concluded. “It got better and better every day.”
The San Jose Sharks are excited to get Klingberg back: He’s projected to run the top power play unit and play big minutes.
So while Klingberg is likely past his days of 50-point seasons, the new San Jose Sharks blueliner wants to remind the NHL how good he can be.
Earlier in training camp, Klingberg shared the latest on his lower-body condition, first impressions of his new team, and mindset entering this season:
Klingberg, on how his lower-body and hips feel:
There’s no pain in [the] joints anymore, which is really nice, but they’re still a work in progress. It’s just going to be week-by-week here. But, it’s better than it’s been in the past. It’s just [about] getting used to the new normal.
Klingberg, on his early thoughts of the team:
It looks good. There is a lot of pieces that fit in. Where they’ve been in the draft last [the] few years, obviously helps a lot. You look at all the young talent and the offensive power that is there: it’s time to take another step. That’s something that the organization is talking about here. It’s exciting for sure.
You look at a guy like Celebrini from Day 1, you can just tell this guy is hungry. He’s first on the ice, last off the ice. [He] is in the gym, before the ice, after the ice. He’s eager to get better and become a really, really good player. Which he obviously already is, but he’s going to continue to get really, really good.
Klingberg, on using preseason practices to ready his skating for the season:
It’s [about] using the practices as a time to get better. I’m 33, but I’ve been going for a lot of changes, just [by not] playing hockey over the last few years [and] with switching a lot of teams. With the new normal, with how my body is now, it takes time to get used to. It’s still, like I said, a work in progress. I feel like I’m lacking a little bit of stamina [early in camp] out there from time to time. So, it’s a great opportunity to work on all those facets of the game right now.
Klingberg, on the makeup of the San Jose Sharks’ defense core:
There’s a lot of [talent] there, for sure. And if you look at a guy like Sam Dickinson, I didn’t know much about him before. I knew he was a really good player. But just from watching him in the scrimmage yesterday, and with all the battle drills that you’re doing on the ice, he looks really good. I’m very excited about him. Hopefully we can see more of him.
Klingberg, on reminding people how good he can be:
I think that’s always what you’re trying to do. Yes, of course. But there is a lot of things that I need to work on here as well, small pieces to get my game back to that. That’s something that I’m working with, with all the trainers here, with the organization. Like I said, it’s a new normal, and it’s going to take some time to get used to it.
I don’t think I’ve played enough of games over the last few years. Even if I was able to get in 19 or 20 games in the playoffs, it’s still been only around 40 games in two years so. And it’s been a lot of changes in the body, changes of organizations, and stuff like that. Hopefully I can really step up my game here and be a big part of the Sharks.
Klingberg, on hopes of making the Swedish Olympic team:
Of course, that’s always something to strive [for.] But, know where I’m at today and what other players the Swedish national team has on the defensive part of the game. It’s going to be tough, but that’s what you’re striving for.
Klingberg, on fellow Swede William Eklund:
Shorter, but he’s really thick when he’s skating. He’s hard to move around on the ice, because his balance is really low. He protects the puck really [well,] He’s got a great vision, great speed, and a great shot. I think he’s a really good all-around player.