The market for John Klingberg this offseason never did materialize as he had hoped, so he will try again next summer after signing a one-year, $7MM contract with the Anaheim Ducks. GM Pat Verbeek released the following statement about the signing:
We are extremely excited to add John to our group. John is a gifted player who can quarterback a power play and give us needed scoring from the blueline. He also adds veteran leadership and character to our team.
It didn’t take long for Klingberg’s new agency to get a deal worked out, after he switched to Newport Sports Management earlier this week. The 29-year-old defenseman had been looking for a seven-year deal on the open market but after two weeks of waiting, he’ll have to settle for a one-year, high-money contract to set himself up for next season.
There’s little doubt that Klingberg can be a difference-making offensive weapon but with a history of inconsistent defensive play and a tough season results-wise (he finished a -28, the worst of his career), there may have been hesitation from teams willing to hand out long-term deals. Players like Ben Chiarot and Erik Gudbranson, two heavy, physical defensemen, were able to secure multi-year contracts at a hefty price but the offensive-minded Klingberg will have to settle for the one-year deal and try to prove he can still be a top-pairing option.
Heading to Anaheim is an interesting choice, given what the team already has in place. Kevin Shattenkirk and Jamie Drysdale are already good puck-moving options on the right side, and Cam Fowler was the team’s leader on the powerplay in 2021-22. While Shattenkirk has just one year remaining on his deal and Drysdale is still just 20 years old, one has to wonder how the team will fit Klingberg into the mix, at least in terms of deployment.
In terms of potential upside? The Ducks are certainly that, with plenty of young talent buzzing all over the ice and a need for some veteran playmakers to add to the mix. The team already brought in Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano in free agency, showing that they’re ready to start competing again after adding some top prospects to the mix.
Most notably for Anaheim, perhaps, is that Klingberg could potentially be a top trade chip at the deadline, should the team not be quite ready to make the playoffs this season. Adding that kind of chip–a trade with retained salary would likely net at least a first-round pick–for nothing but a little offseason cap space is a savvy move from Verbeek. It’s worth noting that the deal only contains a no-trade clause until January 1st, PuckPedia reports. After that, it turns into a 10-team no-trade clause. The team wasn’t in any danger of putting themselves in a tricky cap situation, as before signing Klingberg they had nearly $26MM in space. It makes perfect sense for the team to spend some of it to add an asset to the organization, even if it will be for only a few months.
There is also the chance that Klingberg could sign an extension in Anaheim, though that would have to wait until January 2023 now.
Overall, this seems like a player who is trying to make the best out of a disappointing free agent result, and a team capitalizing on having cap space in a market that is so tight.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Pee pee, and might I add, … poo poo
Sir this is a Wendy’s
Good addition
Another great job of weaponizing cap space by Seattle! Wait, what?!?!?
Well played, Francis is the opposite of GM genius.
Weird. I thought he would sign a 1-year deal with a contender, not a rebuilding club. Good for Anaheim I guess. They’ll move him at the deadline.
Yeah, that may well be the plan: flip him at the deadline, retain as much salary as is needed (and while I’m not a huge Klingberg fan, you can’t argue with his offensive production against a $3.5 MM cap hit), collect the dividends.
Actually, heck: why wait until the deadline? Verbeek could flip him NOW. Since he gets to retain salary, who wants Klingberg running their power play all season for only a $3.5 MM cap hit? A bunch of teams could afford that little.
I’m curious how this ducks team will do.. I can’t stretch my imagination to them winning the cup, but I could see them competing for a playoff spot
Who would sign a contract next year with a GM who immediately flips on a player like that?
Someone who wants to make money, that’s who. Less than a third of the teams in the league have as much as $7 MM cap space left, and if Klingberg has any ambition to play for a contender, this is the situation on the ground. And while people on this site are real fond of saying “Oh, just make a deal to dump salary,” they’re a lot vaguer when it comes to (a) dump whom, exactly? (b) … and fill that new hole created with what, exactly? (c) … and to which team with the cap space AND the inclination to help out a rival team, exactly?
I’d been banging the drum for a while now that the whole cap space situation league-wide was both zero-sum and a lot tighter than fans AND players were bargaining for, and this latest spate of low-ball signings just goes to prove it.
So a sign-and-flip may well be the way that both the Anaheims of the world get to weaponize their cap space, and the Klingbergs of the world get to play for contenders AND get paid what they’re after.
The 1yr. $7mm contract Klingberg signed comes with a No Movement Clause until Jan. 1 2023 that protects him from this action being taken.
Not using cap space – just like the Sabres
Verbeek shows he learned well for yzerman
They may have a chance at the playoffs if they sign Kessel for 1 year and Kadri 4 years.
Cap Friendly put Klingberg in the Minors, Baw-wah-HA!
link to capfriendly.com
Best plan would be to flip him now to a needy team for 1/2 salary.
Get your 1st round pick and prospect because if you wait until trade deadline – teams don’t revamp their power play if they are contending…defensive d men are more needed for playoffs
He’s younger than Letang.
I’ve been told that makes him better.
$7M is steep for him. He’s talented on offense, but his defense…
One year can’t hurt. Anything longer would’ve been a mistake at that salary on a per year basis.
My guess is that when free agency opened Klingberg did have offers for 5 year deals but they thumbed their nose at them. Likely they probably tried to circle back on offers and they had dried up .
There were likely some five year deals at about 6 million and he was a dope not to take one.
Ducks stepping up…. nice move by Patty, who can do the flip w/Klingberg when necessary, or just hold the dude and see what (if any) dividends he reaps..
solid play by the newly minted GM…
60 pt man for sure this year…
klingberg better have a good year or there will be less of a market for him next season.
I really only initially thought about this deal from the Klingberg really messed up his free agency and I can’t believe people wanted the Pens to get rid of Letang for this mediocre player angle.
But…why did the Ducks do this?
They already have Shattenkirk taking minutes away from Jamie Drysdale’s development, now add Klingberg to the mix, too?
In order to flip Klingberg for a good asset later, they have to give him PP time, likely first unit. A team in their position should be giving those minutes to the young player they took 5th overall.
Not really, FWJBT. Consider all the people who still think (for instance) that John Gibson is an elite goalie, and worth huge dividends on the trade market, even after three mediocre seasons in a row. If Klingberg loses some points for not being on the 1st PP unit, I expect that GMs will get that.
Besides which, so far, Pat Verbeek’s proving to be a smart fellow. I imagine he’s not going to be remotely as unrealistic about the return one can get for Klingberg than Nill was.
Is risking the development of a #5 overall pick worth a mid second round pick?
That’s rather a “when did you stop beating your wife?” type of question.
My take is that I don’t agree that not guaranteeing a 20 year old kid 1st PP unit minutes jeopardizes his development. If Drysdale can’t learn from a veteran offensive defenseman like Klingberg, the Ducks have a problem.
The Ducks have problems.
And the fact that Klingberg had to settle for this deal shows he might not be the best guy to learn from, he’s a flawed player.
This is the year the young players need to seize the key roles in ANH.
Valid points..However:
1. Put Jamie Drysdale on the PP #2 role. Blueline power play captain on a second unit with lesser skilled forward bunch he will only be relied on more and take more shots from the point creating more opportunity for his game to develop. I could be wrong. What do y’all think…?
2. Shattenkirk is not in the future plans for this club. Klingberg and Shattenkirk will both potentially be on the block at the trade deadline to a potential team looking for PP help on the blue line. < — Regardless if the Ducks are winning.
3. Yes give Klingberg 1st unit minutes and let him run point. He’s been doing it all his career and leverage his desire to put up big numbers in the hopes he can get that big payday in FA. <— Optimal formula for this signing.
Young players can still seize there roles as players regardless of the contracts that other
players get. Klingberg and Shattenkirk each have a year left, the younger players will get a chance
He should have signed the in-season extend-o with Dallas. Player bet on himself and lost.
With that said – ducks should flip him now for half retained. Wonder if Dallas might be in the mix for that or if there are CBA rules that prevent it. Dobby + a first for Klingberg at 25% retained…
This softy is about to hit a cliff. He clearly misjudged his value. A 7 year deal would have been a massive mistake by any GM willing to commit that term.