Defenseman John Klingberg retired from professional hockey, the NHLPA announced Friday.
Klingberg featured with the San Jose Sharks last season, registering 10 goals and 27 points in 56 games while playing 20:28 per game. The 34-year-old became an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The Swede played the first eight seasons of his career with the Dallas Stars before bouncing around the league with the Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Sharks over the last five campaigns.
A top offensive defenseman in his prime, Klingberg racked up a career-high 67 points in 82 games with the Stars in 2017-18. He led all blue-liners with 59 assists that campaign. He finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting in 2015-16 and 2017-18.
Klingberg underwent hip surgery in December 2023, which limited him to 14 games that season. He didn't return to action until January 2025 and played only 11 contests during the 2024-25 campaign.
Klingberg ends his career with 92 goals and 443 points in 700 games over 12 seasons. He also tallied nine goals and 43 points in 82 playoff contests, most notably recording 21 points in 26 games in 2020 as Dallas lost in the Stanley Cup Final. He later featured for the Oilers in their run to the Cup Final in 2025.
Klingberg ranks third in Stars history in points (374) by a defenseman, behind Sergei Zubov and Craig Hartsburg.
Internationally, Klingberg represented Sweden at four World Championships and two world juniors. He won gold at the Worlds twice (2017, 2018) and at the world juniors in 2012. Klingberg was named Best Defenseman at the 2018 Worlds as well.
