Playing with confidence, Klingberg putting together impressive season

The Dallas Stars went into their bye week on a nice run, winning four of five games and six of eight. And defenseman John Klingberg went into the break on a nice run as well, picking up points in the last five games and eight of the last nine.
Klingberg, who has tallied 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in the last nine games, has 39 points (six goals, 33 assists) in 43 games this season and leads all NHL defensemen in scoring. His 33 assists are tied for eighth among all players.

RELATED: [Klingberg, Seguin selected to represent Stars at 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend in Tampa, Fla.]
But for Klingberg, it's not all about points.
"Points are going to come and go," Klingberg said. "I feel like I am just playing a good all-around game right now."
Klingberg is playing in all situations for the Stars, and he is thriving. He is tied for second on the team with his 39 points, is tops in ice time (23:23 per game), and third in plus/minus (plus-12). Klingberg is playing both sides of special teams, leading the team in time on ice on the power play and logging ample time on the penalty kill. His 4:31 of special-teams time per game is second on the team only to Tyler Seguin's 4:34. He's third on the team with a plus-116 in shot attempts during 5-on-5 play and is tied for third with 53 blocked shots.

The 25-year-old Swede, who is in his fourth NHL season, said the system change with the arrival of head coach Ken Hitchcock and assistant coach Rick Wilson, who handles the defensemen, has helped his game, especially on the defensive side.
"This system fits me a lot better," Klingberg said. "I feel like I am a good defensive player. I am not the best one, but I feel like I am pretty solid, and a good defensive system is going to help my game because you know the forwards are going to be there every time and the other defenseman is going to be there every time. I feel like my all-around game is where it needs to be right now."
That has Klingberg playing with confidence this season. He's been helped by keeping things simple at times, and still just playing his game.
"I've been feeling good the whole year. We've been talking about the fine line between trying to do something with the puck and not trying to do something with the puck," Klingberg said. "I feel like I don't get chasing that much anymore because I don't turn the puck over as much. That's something I talked to Hitch and Rick about the first day I got here after the summer, and that's something we wanted to work on. When I am not thinking and just playing the game as I see it, that's when I am playing the best."
There still are turnovers, but Klingberg has learned to shake them off and move forward, not look back except to learn from mistakes.

"There is a certain risk you play in your game when you are a skilled defenseman like he is, and you are going to make mistakes. He doesn't let it bother him," said Hitchcock. "He plays with no memory, that's the best part of his game. All the young defenseman can learn from that. If you make a mistake, just keep competing. And that's what he does best."
And it's all adding up to a superb season for Klingberg, who could get consideration for the Norris Trophy, which goes to the league's top defenseman, if he continues on this current track.
"One-hundred percent," said Stars captain Jamie Benn when asked if Klingberg was Norris-worthy. "He's such a dynamic player and a leader on this team. I think even this year he has taken his game to another level and it's showing this year on the ice."
Benn is not alone. Klingberg got the nod for the Norris from one of three
USA Today staff members making awards picks
at the halfway point of the season. ESPN's
Greg Wyshynski handed out midseason awards
and had Drew Doughty of Los Angeles as the favorite for the Norris, but had Klingberg as one of his three finalists. A
poll of NHL.com staff members
had Klingberg fourth in the midseason Norris voting behind Doughty, Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay), and Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis).
Klingberg, who could get hurt in awards voting because his ice time lags behind other top defensemen (he ranks 28th among all NHL defensemen), doesn't get as much love on some other midseason Norris lists.

Still, his name is out there for the award halfway through the season. And he was
just selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game
for the first time.
"I think if he keeps improving, he should be up there with the best," said Hitchcock. "He's made a change in the way he plays, which has helped him a lot. He's adapted to being a big-minutes player; he's worked hard at keeping it simple from the red line back. He's not exposing himself or putting himself in tough spots physically, and that's allowed him to be a much better player. His offensive gifts are through the roof.
"There's a lot of players like that in this league, but he's got special gifts."
And those special gifts have Klingberg on track for a pretty special season.
"I've got a lot of confidence playing right now," Klingberg said. "It feels good."
Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow Mark on Twitter at @StarsInsideEdge.