John Klingberg announces retirement from NHL after 12 seasons

Veteran NHL defenseman John Klingberg has announced his retirement from professional hockey after 12 seasons. The 34-year-old Swedish native concludes his career with exactly 700 games played, recording 92 goals and 443 points.

Klingberg’s career was significantly impacted by hip injuries and multiple surgeries. He noted that during summer training, he realized his body could no longer perform at the level required for professional competition. His final season was spent with the San Jose Sharks.

Throughout his career, Klingberg played for several teams, including the Dallas Stars, where he was an All-Star and helped lead the team to the 2020 Stanley Cup final. He also had stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Edmonton Oilers. Internationally, he represented Sweden, winning the 2012 World Junior Championship and back-to-back gold medals at the 2017 and 2018 World Championships, earning Best Defenceman honors in 2018.