Klingberg to San Jose Sharks: “A lot to prove”

NEW YORK. John Klingberg becomes a shark.

He signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday evening worth around 40 million kronor.

– It feels good, it’s a promising team, I hope to come there with some experience and make the team and myself better, the 32-year-old defender tells Sportbladet.

A number of Swedes in North American hockey exile ended up in new clubs when the NHL’s so-called free agency opened on Tuesday.

Viktor Arvidsson was traded from Edmonton to Boston, goaltender Anton Forsberg signed with the LA Kings after five seasons in Ottawa, Isac Lundeström traded Anaheim to Columbus (two years at $1.3 million per season) and former Toronto forward Pontus Holmberg signed with Tampa (two years at $1.5 million per season).

Later in the evening, it was also announced that star defender John Klingberg is ready for the San Jose Sharks.

After a long injury absence, during which he underwent major hip surgery, Klingberg made a comeback with Edmonton last winter and was particularly impressive in the spring playoffs for a series of performances.

Now comes the reward.

He gets four million dollars – just under 40 million kronor – for one year with the Sharks in California.

– It feels good, it’s a tough team with a future, so I hope to come there with some experience and make the team and myself better, says “Burger” in a text message.

– I still have a lot to prove, it will be fun to see all the kids.

In San Jose, the Gothenburger will be teammates with compatriots William Eklund, Alex Wennberg and Timothy Liljegren.

THE BIGGEST DEALS IN THE NHL ON TUESDAY

•Mikael Granlund, from Dallas Stars to Anaheim Ducks (free agency-signing)

•Viktor Arvidsson, from Edmonton Oilers to Boston Bruins (trade)

•Corey Perry, from Edmonton Oilers to LA Kings (free agency signing)

•John Klingberg, from Edmonton Oilers to San Jose Sharks (free agency signing)

•K’Andre Miller, from NY Rangers to Carolina Hurricanes (trade)

•Vladislav Gavrikov, from LA Kings to NY Rangers (free agency signing)

•Connor Brown, from Edmonton Oilers to New Jersey Devils (free agency signing)

•Anton Forsberg, from Ottawa Senators to LA Kings (free agency signing)

•Isac Lundeström, from Anaheim Ducks to Columbus Blue Jackets (free agency-signing)

•Pontus Holmberg, from Toronto Maple Leafs to Tampa Bay Lightning (free agency signing)

•Christian Dvorak, from Montreal Canadiens to Philadelphia Flyers (free agency signing)

•Tanner Jeannot, from LA Kings to Boston Bruins (free agency signing)

•Jonathan Drouin, from Colorado Avalanche to NY Islanders (free agency signing)

•Ryan Lindgren, from Colorado Avalanche to Seattle Kraken (free agency signing).

•Lars Eller, from Washington Capitals to Ottawa Senators (free agency-signing)

•Evgeni Dadonov, from Dallas Stars to New Jersey Devils (free agency signing)

•Nick Bjugstad, from Utah Mammoth to St. Louis Blues (free agency signing)

•Brandon Tanev, from Winnipeg Jets to Utah Mammoth (free agency signing)

•Nate Schmidt, from Florida Panthers to Utah Mammoth (free agency signing)

•James van Riemsdyk, from Columbus Blue Jackets to Detroit Red Wings (free agency signing)

•Jeff Petry, from Detroit Red Wings to Florida Panthers (free agency signing)

•Nick Perbix, from Tampa Bay Lightning to Nashville Predators (free agency signing)

•Cody Ceci, from Dallas Stars to LA Kings (free agency signing)

•Brian Dumoulin, from New Jersey Devils to LA Kings (free agency signing)

•Matt Murray, from Pittsburgh Penguins to Seattle Kraken (free agency signing)

•Nico Sturm, from Florida Panthers to Minnesota Wild (free agency signing)

•Vitek Vanecek, from Florida Panthers to Utah Mammoth (free agency signing)

•Sam Lafferty, from Buffalo Sabres to Chicago Blackhawks (trade)