Gus Forslund became the first Swedish hockey player in NHL history, when he laced up his skates with the Ottawa Senators for one season in early 1930’s. The NHL was largely filled with North American players at the time. That season Eddie Shore was the NHL’s best defenseman while being coached under Art Ross, and Bill Cook had just captured a scoring title with the New York Rangers. While only appearing in one season with the Senators in the NHL, Forslund opened doors for Swedish hockey players to come to the NHL, such as Borje Salming Peter Forsberg, and now, Carl Klingberg.
Being raised in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second biggest city, Winnipeg Jets forward Carl Klingberg always had aspirations of following in Forslund’s footsteps to play hockey in the NHL.
“I’ve always wanted to play in the NHL. The NHL is and always has been the best league in the entire world.”
As a child the 20-year-old Klingberg always idolized former Toronto Maple Leaf forward and fellow Swede Mats Sundin. His brother John, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars, also idolized a Swedish great, Peter Forsberg. The influence of great Swedish NHL players, made Carl want to play in the NHL almost immediately.
After Klingberg played two years of junior hockey in Sweden with Frölunda HC, he moved up to the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second tier league, directly below the Swedish Elite League, Sweden’s top league. After only eight games with the HA’s Borås HC, Klingberg moved up to Frölunda HC’s tier-1 team. Klingberg was not only quickly moving up the Swedish league rankings, but also the NHL Draft rankings.
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Klingberg as the 7th best European skater available in a draft that included a strong Swedish core group of players. Klingberg was eventually drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers 34th overall in the second round.
“I was very happy when Atlanta picked me,” Klingberg recalled.
Klingberg’s journey to the NHL didn’t start immediately, however. Over the next two seasons, Klingberg played with two SEL teams, before transitioning over to the North American game; a transition that Klingberg says his game was better accustomed to.
“North America is a more speedy game, and there is much more North-South hockey instead of a wide rink with a lot of sideways play. I like to go straight to the net, so I think that North America hockey fits me better. I feel that my type of game is more effective in North America. I feel like a better fit here.”
“I think that it’s harder to go back to [play in] Sweden than to go to North America.”
Klingberg got a a minor taste his first pro season in North America. He played in eight AHL games with the Chicago Wolves and played one game in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers.
However, after the season ended, the team that drafted him, the Thrashers, folded and moved to Winnipeg. The move didn’t surprise or faze the young Swede. When he heard that the team was going to be moved to Winnipeg, he became excited with the opportunity that he could get with a new team.
“It [the move to Winnipeg] was going on for a while, so I wasn’t surprised when I heard the deal was completed. I think that it’s awesome to be playing for a Canadian hockey team. There are so much more people who like the game.”
Klingberg said Winnipeg reminds him of his hometown.
“It’s a small town with a lot of energy for hockey, almost like my hometown of Gothenburg, so it was nothing but positive thoughts.”
His hopes are high for the season. Klingberg had trained all summer to be in the best possible shape to make an impact when training camp opened.
“I’ve done everything that a player is supposed to do. I’ve worked hard at the gym; I’ve done some work making my feet faster and have done some explosive training to pump my lungs up. Of course, I’ve also been on the ice as much as possible.”
Klingberg has the confidence, but knows that sticking it in the NHL likely won’t happen overnight, and he will have to work to stay there, just like his idols have done in the past.
While Klingberg didn’t start the season with the Jets, he performed well enough with the St. John’s IceCaps to earn a six game stint with the Jets. His dream of becoming an everyday NHK player is almost a reality, but he knows that there will be hard-knocks along the way.
“I want to play in the NHL for sure, but almost everyone has played in the minors before playing regularly in the NHL. So playing there wouldn’t be the end of the world. I want to develop my game as much as possible. Ultimately though, my goal is to play for the Jets from the start if possible, and doing a hell of a lot for the team so that we can make the playoffs.
