The former Wild defender wants to make a return to the NHL.
The former Wild defender John Klingberg wants to make a return to the NHL, reports say. According to Darren Dreger, Klingberg wants to make a return after recovering from hip resurfacing surgery that he had in 2023.
Klingberg, 32, spent the first eight years of his career with the Dallas Stars. He recorded 71 goals, 303 assists, and 374 points in 552 games. After he left Dallas in 2022, Klingberg signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.
At the 2023 trade deadline the Wild traded for Klingberg who had eight goals and 24 points in 50 games for Anaheim.
The Wild traded a 2025 4th round draft pick, Nikita Nesterenko and Andrej Šustr to Anaheim for Klingberg.
The 6-foot-3 defender was great for the Wild offensively. He recorded nine points in 17 games to finish the 2022-23 season and recorded one goal and four points in four playoff games after he was scratched the first two games of the playoffs.
He had two assists in game three of the 2023 playoffs against his former team and followed that up with a goal and an assist in game four. The Wild ended up losing that series in six games.
Nonetheless, Klingberg has his eyes set on a return to the NHL. The Wild did not sign him after the 2023 season and he signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played 14 games for the Leafs during the 2023-24 season before his injury.
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