It appears as though a giant wrench has been thrown into John Klingberg’s short-term future. The pending unrestricted free agent defenseman hasn’t had much progress in contract talks with the Dallas Stars, or at least it hadn’t been reported. Now, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta says sources have told him that Klingberg has requested a trade from the team.
If that’s the case, it puts Dallas in a really unique position. While they currently sit fourth-last in the Western Conference, they have many games in hand on the rest of the playing field. In fact, when sorting by points percentage, the Stars are currently eighth in the conference, well within the playoff mix.
However, a Klingberg deal at the trade deadline could bring in a lot of good future assets for the team. He’d surely be one of the most desirable assets available – a first-pairing right-shot defenseman in his prime with a reasonable cap hit demands astronomical value. He has one year left with a cap hit of $4.25MM, something that nearly any contender could take on if a third party is involved to retain salary.
Klingberg is sixth on the Stars with 16 points in 25 games. While he’s not having his best season, he’s demonstrated a long track record of being able to quarterback a power-play and swallow up tough minutes. A change of scenery at the deadline could bring out his best for a playoff run, where he’s done well historically.
And while a return for Klingberg may bring in a great package, it could force Dallas to make some weird moves at the trade deadline. If they’re still in playoff position and feel as though they’re in a position to contend, it would make a lot of sense to deal Klingberg in advance of the deadline. It’s appealing to his new team, as it gives him more time to adjust to his new systems and surroundings. It also gives Dallas time to regroup, allowing them to flip some of the Klingberg return to put themselves in a buyers’ position at the trade deadline.
Regardless, it’s a giant wrinkle in the Klingberg story. All eyes will be on him for the next few months, as he’s also going to be one of the best defensemen available on the free-agent market this offseason.
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in the middle of the season with a contending team?
Dallas went all in extending Heiskanen and it upset Klingberg.
The Stars can really set themselves up great for the future with trading Klingberg. They have 2 great young stars in Robertson and Himtz, a stud Defenseman in Heiskanen and Oettinger who is the real deal in Goal. They can be really good really fast in another year or two.
Leafs should overpay to rent him.
With what cap space?
Half retained makes him almost the same salary as Holl. It’s not that hard, would just cost a ton.
Why would they retain half of his salary when he is already a value contract at 4.25M? And the leafs have virtually no picks left this year to up the offer as it would need to be drastically upped to have any money eaten. And Holl has a M-NTC.
pfft, the Leafs do that every year, cost be damned.
Holl and Mikheyev and a 2nd for Klingberg.
That should be of help for both teams
Wow, leaf fans sure do think the rest of the league is out to do them some favors.
A 3rd pair dman and 3rd line winger and late second does not get you a top pair dman. One more being a salary dump in Holl doesn’t help it either.
Leafs want Klingberg it costs more like Sandin/Liljegren, Abramov/Amirov, Holl, a dump like Ritchie, and a 1st or 2nd for Klingberg, a mid tier prospect, and a pick.
Someone like Edmonton could offer Broberg/Samorukov, Bourgault (who plays with their top prospect Bourque), Barrie (a dump like ritchie/Holl) and a 1/2 pick and be in closer territory than Holl+Mikheyev+2nd or the comparable I offered.
Your junk doesn’t land you a top pairing dman. sorry.
Would you accept Holl, Mikheyev, and 2nd for Rielly? Because That is the comparable. Rielly = Klingberg.
What would you accept to move Rielly?
So, the Stars are basically getting a 4th liner, and a 3rd pairing d-man that will both be gone after this year? And a late 2nd?
I don’t think that even close to what they could get for Klinger.
I’m not saying it’s a good idea. Or won’t cost a lot. But money is not the issue. The acquisition cost is.
For the record, I have no desire for them to add him.
Sorry, the question before was on salary, that is how I answered this….I forgot to use the sarcasm font. LOL
And NO, I hate the Leafs!
A better trade would be:
Liljegren, Kerfoot (salary reasons) and a 1st
But I doubt Trono would disrupt the chemistry Kerfoot has w/JT this year
Trono won’t be parting with any of the big 4 till summer for obvious reasons.
This is a huge blessing for the stars. Klingberg is already declining and is starting to have injuries here and there. They would have locked him up simply on his past performance, but now have a chance to restock and build around their young core.
Eh, if I’m Dallas, I trade the guy in a shot. Because let’s review: he’s 29 years old now. Both his offensive numbers and defensive metrics have slid in recent years. It’s been five years since he’s played a full season. At his age, these factors are not going to get any friendlier. And yeah, a guy with his resume is going to command a hefty raise at the end of next season.
SOMEone will seriously overpay the Stars for him, and his trade value will never be higher than now. So the question is this: does a team that’s on the playoff bubble at best get a bunch of goodies for a guy destined to decline, or do they get to be just another team carrying just another monster overpay that cripples them on the cap three or so years from now?
Nashville has cap space and young players they can throw the Stars way. They could be the dark horse in the play-offs. Klingberg could run the 2ndPP.
Would Myers, a 2023 1st, and Kunin be enough? 2 youngsters and a 1st?
That is a bunch for a rental!
Too much for one, and really, teams have been seriously overpaying for rentals for a while now. If I’m handing over two sound players and a 1st rounder for a guy who can walk in a couple months, the statement in my head has to be “With this guy we WILL win the Cup.” Anything short, never mind.
Obviously, this isn’t the paradigm 95% of GMs and fanbases run by, so yeah, Dallas should be able to at least get that much, from someone.
Leafs fans need to prepare for the inevitable. A great regular season performance gets shamed by another one and done in the playoffs. The team is mentally soft.
SiriusXM NHL Radio “The Discussion Room” yesterday they said the teams that are being most watched to possibly acquire him would be:Nashville, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Tampa.
Not sure the price but most of these teams would be using him as a rental obviously
It would be interesting to see what Tampa would give for him….
Edmonton…could they trade Barrie and a minor pick for him???
Nucks….That is a tough one….Myers(retain $1M) ?? and a 2023 2nd???It would have to pletty even on the money.
I think Nasville is the one that give the most! Myers, a 2023 1st and a little more….