Defenceman John Klingberg will make his long-awaited Blue & Orange debut on Thursday night when the Edmonton Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings at Rogers Place, Head Coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed following the morning skate.

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch revealed at practice today that defenceman John Klingberg is expected to make his debut with the team along with new defence pairs.

For the first time in well over a year, John Klingberg is suiting up in an NHL game. The former All-Star defenceman will make his Oilers debut playing alongside Darnell Nurse on the team’s second pairing when Edmonton hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

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Klingberg will either be a brilliant addition for the Oilers or a quick audition that will be forgotten by fall.

In the wake of his career-surviving major surgery, it was a hip, hip hooray moment for John Klingberg when he signed his one-year free-agent contract in Edmonton—five years after being in the 2020 playoff bubble with the Dallas Stars when they were two games from winning the Stanley Cup.

The Edmonton Oilers potentially bolstered their defense Friday by signing free agent John Klingberg, a low-risk move that could amount to adding a top-four blueliner.