3 Free Agency Fits for John Klingberg

John Klingberg is coming off a solid season with the San Jose Sharks, but he remains an unrestricted free agent as July comes to a close and the new season inches even closer.

There is no reason to believe Klingberg won’t get a new deal for the 2026-27 season, but up to this point, he hasn’t put pen to paper. 

Last season, he scored 10 goals and added 17 assists for 27 points through 56 games. Throughout his career, he has scored 92 goals and added 351 assists for 443 points through 700 games.

It’s possible that Klingberg could be looking for term on his new deal, which could be keeping some teams away from signing him. If he were willing to take a short-term deal that won’t break the bank, there are a few teams that make sense to land him.

In this article, we take a look at three potential fits for Klingberg. 

Anaheim Ducks

After trading Olen Zellweger, as well as losing both Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba, the Ducks could benefit from adding defensive depth.

The Ducks have had an interesting offseason and have become cap-strapped following some offer sheet drama surrounding Leo Carlsson. With Carlsson now signed to a five-year deal worth $18 million annually, as well as their need to give Cutter Gauthier a new contract, they need a lot of things to go right to be in contention next season.

If Klingberg were willing to be patient as the Ducks create some cap space, he could sign a one-year deal with them to prove himself, which could be a win-win for both sides. The Ducks could either flip Klingberg at the 2027 Trade Deadline if they aren’t in playoff contention, or they use him as their own rental heading into the postseason. If Klingberg plays well, he could earn a raise at the end of the season, and potentially a longer deal as well.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are just a couple of moves away from being considered serious contenders heading into the 2026-27 season, and adding another veteran defender who can play in a top-four role would be beneficial.

The Bruins have a bit better of a cap situation than the Ducks do, but they would likely prefer to keep the cap hit and term down as well. They could probably convince Klingberg to join them on a deal similar to what Anthony Mantha signed for with the New Jersey Devils, which was a two-year deal worth just under $5 million annually.

Similar to what would happen if the Ducks brought him in, the Bruins could keep Klingberg around as their own rental or flip him at the trade deadline, even with the extra year on his deal, depending on where they sit in the standings.

Seattle Kraken

If Klingberg is looking to cash in and take the highest offer, the Seattle Kraken are the team that will likely give it to him. They need to add defensive depth and have money to spend. They already tried to land two big-name players in Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson, and while Klingberg doesn’t quite match their level, signing him would prove they’re willing to spend to try and contend.

Klingberg could also likely get the most term from the Kraken. They take on almost no risk by bringing in Klingberg on a short-term deal, even if they give him over $5 million annually, but giving him three years really doesn’t hurt them overall.

With the cap going up, Klingberg being there helps them get to the cap floor in a couple of years, and if they’re rebuilding, they could flip him for future assets.

Either way, Klingberg will be signing somewhere, at some point. When he does, any of these three teams makes sense to land him.

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