LAS VEGAS – John Klingberg may not be the King of Rock and Roll, but he’s moving like royalty in these playoffs—and the Edmonton Oilers are reaping the rewards.
In a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to open their Western Conference Second Round series, the veteran defenseman showed off the kind of smooth skating and puck-moving magic that once made him an elite NHL blueliner. And yes, after dual hip resurfacing surgeries just five months ago, those hips are now the talk of the hockey world.
Klingberg’s New Groove Lights Up Vegas
Klingberg, 32, was the engine behind one of the Oilers’ most critical goals in Game 1, firing a laser pass from deep in Edmonton’s zone to spring Leon Draisaitl, who teamed up with Connor McDavid and Corey Perry for a tic-tac-toe finish that cut the Knights’ early lead.
“He was dancing out there,” said Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard. “His vision and puck movement were next-level tonight.”
It was the kind of sequence that made Klingberg a household name in Dallas, where he tallied 67 points in 2017-18 and quarterbacked the Stars’ offense for years—before injuries took their toll.
Now, after missing over a year of hockey and playing just 11 regular-season games for Edmonton, he looks rejuvenated. And just in time.
Oilers Reaping the Rewards of Klingberg’s Comeback
Signed in January 2025, Klingberg was a calculated risk—an insurance policy for a playoff run. That policy is paying off in full.
“He’s playing free, with confidence, and you can tell he feels good again,” said teammate Adam Henrique, who also played with Klingberg in Anaheim. “He’s moving like the Klingy of old.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed the sentiment, admitting the staff didn’t expect this high a level of play so soon.
“We hoped he’d contribute,” Knoblauch said. “But he’s been a difference-maker—calming, smart, and clutch.”
Klingberg’s skating, often reliant on deceptive edgework and hip mobility, had been visibly limited in recent years. But with his surgery now behind him, the defender seems reborn.
Rockin’ and Rollin’: Hip Surgery Gave Klingberg a New Lease
“I feel more comfortable every game,” Klingberg said post-game. “It’s a process, but I’m finally playing without worrying about the pain.”
Fellow NHL veteran Tyler Seguin, a long-time teammate in Dallas and now on the other side of the bracket with the Stars, knows the grind of injury recovery all too well.
“It’s a mental battle,” Seguin said. “You’re always comparing yourself to who you were. But Klingy’s fought through it, and it’s great to see him thrive.”
Zach Hyman, who’s faced Klingberg for nearly a decade, knew something had changed the moment they shared the ice again.
“When his hips are moving, he’s unpredictable,” Hyman said. “You don’t know which way he’s turning. That’s when you know he’s back.”
All Fans Have a Horse in the Race
For fans, Klingberg’s resurgence is more than a playoff storyline—it’s a reminder that grit, resilience, and skill still matter. His Western Conference resurgence resonates with a region that knows what it means to scrap for success.
As Edmonton looks to push deeper into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, don’t be surprised if Klingberg—new hips and all—keeps dancing his way into the spotlight.
Game 2 of the series is Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. Judging by Game 1, there’s going to be a whole lotta shakin’ going on.
