John Klingberg is anticipated to be out for a longer period as the San Jose Sharks continue to manage injuries on their defense line. On Monday, the Sharks confirmed that the seasoned defenseman was placed on injured reserve, prompting the team to call up forward Patrick Giles from their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
Klingberg has been sidelined since the Sharks’ New Year’s Eve 4-3 shootout win against the Minnesota Wild, suffering a lower-body injury during that game. This injury also kept him out of the recent 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at SAP Center. According to NHL injured reserve rules, Klingberg can rejoin the lineup this coming Saturday when San Jose hosts the Dallas Stars.
This season, Klingberg has been intermittently absent due to injuries and health concerns. The 33-year-old defenseman has participated in 31 games, tallying nine goals and seven assists for a total of 16 points. He holds a plus/minus rating of +1 and averages over 21 minutes of ice time per game, demonstrating his importance to the team when healthy.
Originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, Klingberg is playing on a one-year contract with the Sharks, carrying a $4 million cap hit through the 2025-26 season. He joined the team after concluding the previous season with the Edmonton Oilers.
Forward Patrick Giles has played in three games this season for the Sharks but hasn’t appeared in an NHL match since November 2. At 26, Giles has recorded one assist, which came against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Sharks currently hold a 20-18-3 record and are close to securing the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They aim to recover from Saturday’s loss to the Lightning when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets at SAP Arena, with the game set to start at 9 p.m. local time.
Fan Take: Klingberg’s injury is a significant setback for the Sharks, as his experience and ice time are vital to the team’s defense. Hockey fans should watch closely how the Sharks adapt, as this could influence their playoff chances and underscore the growing importance of depth and resilience in professional hockey squads.
