SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks have their first notable injury of training camp, as veteran defenseman John Klingberg is now considered day-to-day with an upper body ailment.
Klingberg sustained the injury in the Sharks’ 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at SAP Center in the preseason opener for both teams. Klingberg played over 21 minutes and scored a second period power play goal.
Coach Ryan Warsofsky said it appears unlikely that Klingberg will be available Friday when the Sharks again host the Golden Knights. The Sharks are scheduled to practice Wednesday and Thursday with a team day off on Saturday.
Warsofsky said Klingberg’s injury is not related to the double hip resurfacing surgery he had in Dec. 2023 and kept him out for over a year. In January, Klingberg signed with the Edmonton Oilers and was part of the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring.
Klingberg signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Sharks as a free agent in July.
Klingberg said at the start of camp last week that, “there’s no pain in the joint anymore, which is really nice, but (it’s) still a work in progress. It’s just going to be week by week here. But it’s better than it’s been in the past, but it’s just getting used to the new normal.”
Klingberg, 33, figures to be a big part of the Sharks power play this season. Of his 416 career NHL points, 160 have come with the man advantage.
Sam Dickinson, the Sharks’ top prospect on defense, took Klinbgerg’s spot on the first power play unit during Tuesday’s drills. Other skaters on that unit were forwards Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund, and Tyler Toffoli.