Rob Klinkhammer

Rob Klinkhammer
230px Klinkhammer in February 2015.
Born	(1986-08-12) August 12, 1986 Lethbridge, AB, CAN
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Edmonton Oilers Chicago Blackhawks Ottawa Senators Arizona Coyotes Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2007–present

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

Playing career

Amateur

File:Rob Klinkhammer 2014-12-13 1.JPG

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. 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. On July 11, 2011, Klinkhammer signed a one-year contract extension with Chicago.

On December 2, 2011, Klinkhammer was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2013. 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."

File:Rob Klinkhammer.jpg

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 affect, 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.

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.

On January 2, 2015, Klinkhammer and a first-round pick in 2015 were traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for David Perron. On January 6, Klinkhammer landed a blindside-hit on Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzén, causing the latter a severe concussion that ended his season. 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. He finished the 2014–15 season with five goals and four assists from 69 games split between the Coyotes, Penguins and Oilers.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL		25	2	3	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL		72	14	12	26	81		5	0	1	1	4
2005–06	Lethbridge Hurricanes	WHL		35	5	7	12	15		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		32	3	5	8	37		7	0	1	1	6
2006–07	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		1	0	0	0	9		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		37	23	19	42	70		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL		28	10	21	31	29		11	4	4	8	22
2007–08	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		66	12	12	24	41		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		76	15	18	33	32		4	0	1	1	0
2009–10	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		72	10	14	24	38		4	1	1	2	7
2010–11	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		76	17	29	46	63		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		18	2	4	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Binghamton Senators	AHL		35	12	23	35	30		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Ottawa Senators	NHL		15	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Portland Pirates	AHL		53	14	30	44	36		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		22	5	6	11	10		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		72	11	9	20	19		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Arizona Coyotes	NHL		19	3	0	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		10	1	2	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		40	1	2	3	23		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		14	1	0	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Bakersfield Condors	AHL		27	14	10	24	36		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				193	22	21	43	64		—	—	—	—	—

External links

• Rob Klinkhammer's player profile at NHL.com
• Rob Klinkhammer's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database