Post by NHLWinnipeg on Aug 18, 2011 11:41:21 GMT -6
doubleplaysports.net/2011/08/18/talking-with-jets-carl-klingberg-it%E2%80%99s-awesome-to-be-playing-for-a-canadian-hockey-team/
Talking With Jets Carl Klingberg: “It’s awesome to be playing for a Canadian hockey team”
Being raised in Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg, Winnipeg Jets forward Carl Klingberg always had aspirations of one day playing 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.”
The stepping-stones have already been placed for Swedish players to come to the NHL with open arms. Growing up, the 20-year-old Klingberg always idolized former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mats Sundin. His brother John, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars, grew up idolizing Peter Forsberg. Both Forsberg and Sundin were both dynamic players who showed that great Swedish players can also be great in North America.
Klingberg’s name had been rising quickly. 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 SEL. 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 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. Over the next two seasons, Klingberg played with two SEL teams, and made the transition over to the North American game; a transition he enjoyed.
“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 minor taste of what it was like to play hockey in North America. In total he played in eight AHL games with the Chicago Wolves and played one game in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers.
The news that the Atlanta Thrashers were folding and being moved didn’t surprise or phase the young Swede. When he heard that the team was going to be moved to Winnipeg, he was excited.
“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 hasn’t been to Winnipeg yet, but the city reminds him of home.
“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 has been training all summer to be in the best possible shape to make an impact when training camp opens.
“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 confidence, but knows that making it in the NHL likely won’t happen overnight, and he will have to work to get there, just like his idols have done in the past.
“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.
Talking With Jets Carl Klingberg: “It’s awesome to be playing for a Canadian hockey team”
Being raised in Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg, Winnipeg Jets forward Carl Klingberg always had aspirations of one day playing 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.”
The stepping-stones have already been placed for Swedish players to come to the NHL with open arms. Growing up, the 20-year-old Klingberg always idolized former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mats Sundin. His brother John, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars, grew up idolizing Peter Forsberg. Both Forsberg and Sundin were both dynamic players who showed that great Swedish players can also be great in North America.
Klingberg’s name had been rising quickly. 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 SEL. 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 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. Over the next two seasons, Klingberg played with two SEL teams, and made the transition over to the North American game; a transition he enjoyed.
“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 minor taste of what it was like to play hockey in North America. In total he played in eight AHL games with the Chicago Wolves and played one game in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers.
The news that the Atlanta Thrashers were folding and being moved didn’t surprise or phase the young Swede. When he heard that the team was going to be moved to Winnipeg, he was excited.
“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 hasn’t been to Winnipeg yet, but the city reminds him of home.
“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 has been training all summer to be in the best possible shape to make an impact when training camp opens.
“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 confidence, but knows that making it in the NHL likely won’t happen overnight, and he will have to work to get there, just like his idols have done in the past.
“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.
