While there has been a stated mutual desire for the Stars and John Klingberg to work out a contract extension, Pierre LeBrun reported in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link) that there have been no recent discussions on that front and that the current expectation is that the defenseman will test the open market next month. The 29-year-old has been one of the more consistent offensive producers in the NHL; over his eight-year career, only seven blueliners have more points than him over that stretch. Klingberg is coming off a bargain seven-year deal that carried just a $4.25MM AAV and earlier reports suggested he was looking to nearly double that on a max-term agreement. At this point, if he’s going to get that type of contract, it seems unlikely it will be coming from Dallas.
More from the Central:
- The Jets are expected to meet with coaching candidate Barry Trotz this weekend, reports Postmedia’s Paul Friesen. The bench boss has been linked to multiple teams since being fired by the Islanders earlier this offseason and this will be the Manitoba native’s second interview with his hometown team. Winnipeg currently has Dave Lowry as their interim head coach and while he is believed to be among the candidates that would be considered for the full-time role, their preference would certainly be to land a top-flight candidate like Trotz.
- Coyotes prospect Dylan Guenther will miss the upcoming Memorial Cup due to a lower-body injury sustained in the WHL Final against Seattle, notes PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan (Twitter link). While his playoff run came to an early end, it was still a strong one for the 2021 ninth-overall selection as he had 13 goals in 16 postseason contests after putting up 45 goals and 46 assists in just 59 regular season contests to finish sixth in league scoring.
The Jets need Trotz. AND it’s his hometown. AND Chevy will have a job for life, which means Trotz will have a job for life.
Seems too obvious to not happen.
A long term, iron clad deal from Steve Yzerman might be the only thing that prevents it.
@forwhomjoshbelltolled- And, don’t forget the important part – Little Brown Jug brewery has offered him BEER FOR LIFE! if he signs there! Happy Daze!
Trotz has other options.
(shakes his head) So … at age 29, Klingberg wants $9MM AAV on max term? If I was a GM, I’d just point at his agent and laugh. He’s a good defenseman, but no one’s worth $9MM deep into their thirties, and if he wants to get paid like a Norris finalist, he needs to play like a Norris finalist. Which he never has … never mind that his scoring has slipped and his defensive metrics gotten a good bit worse over the last three years, just at the age where most players start to decline.