Rob Klinkhammer

Robert Klinkhammer (born August 12, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently playing for HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Klinkhammer has previously played in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers organizations, making his NHL debut in 2010 with the Blackhawks.

Rob Klinkhammer
Klinkhammer in February 2015.
Born (1986-08-12) August 12, 1986
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams
Dinamo Minsk
Chicago Blackhawks
Ottawa Senators
Arizona Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins
Edmonton Oilers
Ak Bars Kazan
Avangard Omsk
National team  Canada
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2007present

Playing career

Amateur

Klinkhammer in December 2014.

Klinkhammer began his final season of major junior ice hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds, playing one game with the team before moving to finish his junior career with the Portland Winter Hawks and Brandon Wheat Kings, notching a junior career-best 33 goals, 40 assists for 73 points in 66 combined games. In 11 post-season games with Brandon, he had eight points after the Wheat Kings won the WHL's East Division Title.

Professional

Klinkhammer played his first professional season in 2007–08 with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his professional debut on October 19, 2007, against the Binghamton Senators, providing an assist. He then scored his first career professional goal on November 23 against the Springfield Falcons, adding two assists for the Admirals' 4–2 win.

On June 8, 2009, Klinkhammer signed as a free agent with the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, to a two-year, entry-level contract.[1] Following an injury to Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, Klinkhammer was recalled from Rockford to make his NHL debut on December 10, 2010, dressing for a home game win over the Dallas Stars.[2] On July 11, 2011, Klinkhammer signed a one-year contract extension with Chicago.[3]

On December 2, 2011, Klinkhammer was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2013.[4] He reported to the Senators' AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. He played in his second NHL game, and first with the Senators, on March 4, 2012, against the Florida Panthers. After the game, Ottawa Head Coach Paul MacLean was impressed, calling Klinkhammer "one of our best players."[5]

Rob Klinkhammer during his time with the Coyotes.

On July 3, 2012, Klinkhammer signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes. With the 2012–13 NHL lockout in effect, however, he was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He scored his first career hat-trick October 23, 2012. When the lockout was resolved in January 2013, Klinkhammer remained with Portland, though he was eventually recalled to the Coyotes, later earning the nickname "The Colonel" after his surname's resemblance to the fictional character Colonel Klink's from the TV sitcom Hogan's Heroes.[6]

On December 5, 2014, Klinkhammer, along with a conditional fifth-round pick in 2016, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Philip Samuelsson.[7]

On January 2, 2015, Klinkhammer and a first-round pick in 2015 were traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for David Perron.[8] On January 6, Klinkhammer landed a blindside-hit on Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzén, causing the latter a severe concussion that ended his career.[9] On February 20, Klinkhammer signed a one-year, $650,000 contract extension with the Oilers, keeping him with the organization through to the conclusion of the 2015–16 season.[10] He finished the 2014–15 season with five goals and four assists from 69 games split between the Coyotes, Penguins and Oilers.[11]

After 6 seasons in the NHL, Klinkhammer opted to sign as a free agent to a two-year deal with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL on June 17, 2016.[12]

In Game 5 of the 2018 Gagarin Cup Final against CSKA Moscow, Klinkhammer scored the game-winning goal for Ak Bars Kazan, allowing them to win the Gagarin Cup for the third time since KHL's inception.[13]

On July 25, 2020, Klinkhammer continued his career in the KHL, returning to Belarussian club, Dinamo Minsk, as a free agent on a one-year contract.[14]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
2018 Pyeongchang

During the 2017–18 season, Klinkhammer was selected to represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[15] Used in a checking-line role, Klinkhammer contributed with 2 assists in 6 games to help Canada claim the Bronze medal.

Personal life

Klinkhammer missed two games in 2015 to attend the birth of his child Gunnar Knox, with his wife Jessica.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Lethbridge Y Men AAA AMHL 36581384
2003–04 Lethbridge Y Men AAA AMHL 29202242114
2003–04 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 2523512
2004–05 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 7214122681 50114
2005–06 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 35571215
2005–06 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 3235837 70116
2006–07 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 10009
2006–07 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 3723194270
2006–07 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 2810213129 1144822
2007–08 Norfolk Admirals AHL 6612122441
2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 7615183332 40110
2009–10 Rockford IceHogs AHL 7210142438 41127
2010–11 Rockford IceHogs AHL 7617294663
2010–11 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 10000
2011–12 Rockford IceHogs AHL 182466
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 3512233530
2011–12 Ottawa Senators NHL 150222
2012–13 Portland Pirates AHL 5314304436
2012–13 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 22561110
2013–14 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 721192019
2014–15 Arizona Coyotes NHL 193034
2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 101230
2014–15 Edmonton Oilers NHL 4012323
2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 141016
2015–16 Bakersfield Condors AHL 2714102436
2016–17 Dinamo Minsk KHL 4721214265 51120
2017–18 Dinamo Minsk KHL 711227
2017–18 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 427132032 1935810
2018–19 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 571952479 41018
2019–20 Avangard Omsk KHL 4412152757
AHL totals 423 96 140 236 282 8 1 2 3 7
NHL totals 193 22 21 43 64
KHL totals 197 60 55 115 260 28 5 6 11 18

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Canada OG 6 0 2 2 2
Senior totals 6 0 2 2 2

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
KHL
Gagarin Cup (Ak Bars Kazan) 2018 [13]

References

  1. "Blackhawks ink four prospects". Chicago Blackhawks. 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  2. "Klinkhammer's dream comes true". ESPN. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  3. "Hawks sign Klinkhammer, Richards". ESPN. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  4. "Bulletin: Senators acquire Rob Klinkhammer from Chicago in exchange for a conditional seventh round draft pick in 2013". Ottawa Senators. December 2, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  5. "Out with Lehner, in with Bishop". Canoe.ca. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  6. Rorabaugh, Seth (December 9, 2014). "Size a big part of Klinkhammer's game - 12-09-14". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  7. "Coyotes trade Klinkhammer, conditional fifth to Penguins for Samuelsson". TSN. 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
  8. "Oilers send forward Perron to Penguins for Klinkhammer, first-round pick". CTV. 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  9. Wakiji, Dana (January 8, 2015). "Wings place Franzen on IR, recall Pulkkinen". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  10. TSN Staff (February 20, 2015). "Oilers re-sign Klinkhammer, Hamilton". TSN. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  11. Cullen, Scott (April 24, 2015). "Off-Season Game Plan: Edmonton Oilers". TSN. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  12. "Dinamo Minsk announce three signings" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  13. "Ak Bars Wins the Gagarin Cup. Final, Game 5, April 22". KHL. 2018-04-22.
  14. "Rob Klinkhammer signs a contract with Dinamo Minsk" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  15. "Hockey Canada announces men's olympic roster". Sportsnet.ca. 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  16. "Oilers forward Rob Klinkhammer back from marathon car trip to attend son's birth". Edmonton Sun. 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
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