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John Klingberg

Deadline Notes: Chychrun, Marino, Klingberg, Georgiev

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The Arizona Coyotes announced that defenseman Jakob Chychrun would not return for the Coyotes tonight after suffering a lower-body injury against the Boston Bruins. Interestingly, this was Chychrun’s second trip to the dressing room of the evening, after leaving the ice earlier in the game and returning, before taking a hit from Boston’s Derek Forbort. As a result of the hit, Chychrun fell awkwardly into the boards.

The injury carries multiple layers of concern for the Coyoytes. While the team is first and foremost concerned with the health of Chychrun, he is one of Arizona’s most important players. It’s also no secret that Chychrun’s name has been front and center among potential trade bait as the NHL’s trade deadline nears, and any long-term injury to Chychrun could drastically affect his market.

  • In the 32 Thoughts segment of Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added another interesting name to the trade deadline discussion: John Marino. Friedman mentions Marino as a potential option for the Vancouver Canucks, who are searching for an impact defenseman. Friedman adds, however, that the Pittsburgh Penguins very much like Marino and would certainly prefer to keep him. The idea of trading Marino might seem misplaced, especially with the Penguins sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division, however Vancouver could utilize one of their forward assets such as J.T. Miller or Brock Boeser to try and acquire Marino from Pittsburgh. Even if the young defenseman could bring the Penguins a player like Boeser, Marino is signed through the 2026-27 season at a very reasonable $4.4MM per season, something the salary-cap-mindful Penguins may not want to part with.
  • Joining Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada was Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, who took a name out of the deadline conversation: John Klingberg. Marek mentions that with Miro Heiskanen expected to miss time with mononucleosis, Klingberg may now be more valuable to the Stars than what they could get back for him. Rumors had started to circulate around Klingberg as a potential trade chip when it appeared the Stars would not be able to re-sign the pending UFA. While the talented defenseman would likely bring back a large return for Dallas, the team is in the midst of a playoff push and could use Klingberg for its own benefit. Even if Klingberg leaves via free agency in the summer, he could function as a rental for Dallas, who may have sought to replace him anyways if they were to trade him away. With nine days to go until the NHL’s trade deadline, things can surely change, but for now, it appears Klingberg is staying put.
  • ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports that New York Rangers’ goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has switched agents ahead of the trade deadline. Georgiev is now represented by Gerry Johannson of TSC Hockey. It is not immediately clear why Georgiev changed his representation, but the switch is noteworthy considering Georgiev is one of the more likely names to be moved ahead of the trade deadline.

Latest On Dallas Stars Deadline Plans

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The Dallas Stars are an enigma. On one hand, they are a team with long-term, anchor-like contracts to underperforming stars, and on the other, they are an exciting roster filled with young developing talents and one grizzled veteran having arguably the best season of his career. They are a team that lost five in a row and nine of 14, just before winning four in a row and eight of 11. They are just one point out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, and yet have a negative goal differential (-1).

So what kind of team are they as the deadline approaches? Are they buyers, sellers, or stay-put-ers? John Klingberg would certainly have you believe they are going to sell at the deadline, at least in his case. The veteran defenseman is on an expiring contract and publicly admitted that the Stars gave his camp license to look for a different fit around the league. There doesn’t appear to be an extension coming in Dallas, meaning the Stars could sell off Klingberg as a top-end rental and get back a number of future assets.

Then there is Joe Pavelski, that grizzled veteran, also in an expiring deal but having the season of his life. At age-37, the versatile forward has 21 goals and 52 points in 47 games. If that pace continues, it would be the first time he has reached the point-per-game mark for a full season, though he has come awfully close previously. Pavelski leads the Stars in scoring and has found a perfect linemate in young Jason Robertson, who appears to be a superstar in the making. If the team decided to sell, Pavelski would be coveted by every contender in the league.

Not so fast, says Sean Shapiro of The Athletic. He tweets that with the Stars in a playoff race, a general manager on the hot seat and an owner “desperate for playoff revenue,” Dallas shouldn’t be considered a seller.

It is true that the Stars are in the playoff race. After their recent stretch of strong play, they are once again within striking distance of the postseason. That of course comes with the caveat that the only spots within their grasp appear–at the moment anyway–to be the wild card positions, as Dallas remains seven points behind the St. Louis Blues for third in the Central Division, with the Nashville Predators in between the two.

As for the GM on the hot seat, Jim Nill has been at the head of the Dallas front office since 2013. The Stars have reached the playoffs just four times in his eight full seasons as GM, and other than the Cinderella-like run in the 2020 bubble playoffs when the Stars made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals have never made it past the second round. Nill is on his fourth coach and is the one who inked those contracts for Jamie Benn–signed through 2024-25 at $9.5MM per season–and Tyler Seguin–signed through 2026-27 at $9.85MM per season–that look so daunting now.

Like many teams around the league, Dallas is currently using long-term injured reserve relief to fit everyone in. Ben Bishop, who isn’t expected to play again is the source of that, meaning they have a little wiggle room to add if they wanted to. But it’s not much and with the team still outside the playoff picture looking in, using futures to add also doesn’t seem like the best strategy. So for now, at least until things are sorted further in the Western Conference postseason picture, the Stars remain an enigma.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Poll: Which Player Will Fetch The Biggest Trade Deadline Return?

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The trade deadline is almost within the next month, and as March 21st approaches, rumors continue to swirl about names that could be dealt. There’s a lot of big-name talent, and some high-end role players as well that teams are sure to value.

One player who truly encapsulates both of those terms is Claude Giroux. The longtime captain of the Philadelphia Flyers is in the last year of his deal, and as the Flyers skid further and further out of playoff contention, there’s continual chatter about them moving their captain out for assets, helping him get a chance to win a Stanley Cup. There are many teams who would line up to acquire his services, including the already powerhouse Colorado Avalanche, who have been linked to Giroux in recent days.

Another potential big-name center on the market is San Jose’s Tomas Hertl. Speculation about his future has ramped up rapidly. With the Sharks in a sort of “tweener” status as they look to exit their rebuild sooner than planned, Hertl is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season in the prime of his career. This will be the biggest payday of his life in all likelihood, and while Hertl does enjoy San Jose, if the Sharks feel it’s unlikely they’ll be able to reach a deal, he could be suiting up elsewhere next month.

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is having a tough year in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean the young, cost-controlled blue-liner isn’t an attractive piece for teams looking at adding to their top-four. The rumoured asking price for him is large, but Chychrun has just 11 points in 37 games, a far cry from his torrid pace last season. He’s no rental, though, as if he rebounds, his $4.6MM cap hit until 2025 could be incredible value for an acquiring team.

One defenseman who is racking up points is Dallas’ John Klingberg. While injured right now, he has 26 points in 39 games. An unrestricted free agent this year, Klingberg reportedly requested a trade. With Dallas not guaranteed to make the playoffs at this point, they could make the choice to recoup assets on Klingberg while they can.

So, we ask you, PHR readers: who do you think will fetch the largest return at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline? Will it be someone other than the options mentioned? Make your voice heard here.

Mobile users, click here to vote!

Injury Notes: Stars, Ducks, Golden Knights, Devils

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Dallas Stars digital manager Kyle Shohara reports from team practice that defenseman John Klingberg and center Radek Faksa took the ice today after missing time with an upper-body injury and non-COVID-related illness, respectively. Klingberg missed the team’s last game, a 5-1 win against the New Jersey Devils, while Faksa missed that game and the night prior against the Philadelphia Flyers. Both would be huge returns to the Stars lineup, especially Klingberg. With the Swedish defenseman reportedly requesting a trade out of Dallas, every game (and every good play) matters for Dallas to recoup as much value as possible if a trade occurs.

A busy night in the NHL yields more injury news:

  • The Anaheim Ducks get two key contributors back tonight versus Montreal, activating center Adam Henrique from injured reserve and defenseman Josh Manson from COVID-19 protocol. Both return to prominent roles in the lineup, with Henrique’s 16 points in 24 games likely to help boost a stagnating Ducks offense as of late. To make room on the active roster, the team reassigned defensemen Jacob Larsson and Greg Pateryn to the taxi squad and Brendan Guhle to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.
  • Two gigantic contributors are returning to the Vegas Golden Knights lineup, as wingers Max Pacioretty and Reilly Smith make their returns tonight, per the Las Vegas Sun’s Justin Emerson. Pacioretty’s rarely been healthy this year, but when he has, he’s scored at a torrid pace, netting 12 goals and 21 points in 16 games. Smith, coming off COVID protocol, has a respectable 29 points in 41 games.
  • The New Jersey Devils got some good news with defenseman Ty Smith coming off injured reserve today, but he’s been replaced on the list by center Michael McLeod. Despite Smith’s strong rookie campaign last season, he’s having a serious sophomore slump with poor defensive numbers and just 10 points in 33 games to show for it. Hopefully, a reset can help jumpstart an improvement in play for the 21-year-old. The Devils will miss McLeod and his 11 points and 41 games in a depth role.

John Klingberg Trade Talks Ramping Up

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As the trade deadline approaches, many eyes have turned to the Dallas Stars after John Klingberg spoke publicly about the lack of extension negotiations making him feel underappreciated. Klingberg’s representatives received approval from the club earlier this season to approach other teams to try and find a fit as the veteran defenseman approaches unrestricted free agency, but there hasn’t been a deal completed to this point.

Through the first part of the season, Klingberg had been getting his normal ice time, well over 20 minutes on most nights. Recently though, those numbers have dropped and tonight will be a huge change, as the former Norris Trophy nominee is skating on the third pairing against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet spoke about the situation on tonight’s 32 Thoughts segment:

The Dallas Stars have stepped up their efforts to trade John Klingberg. We believe very much that he is getting dealt. Hard to say exactly when, but Dallas does seem aggressive in wanting to get something done soon-ish. 

Today, Stars head coach Rick Bowness told reporters including Saad Yousuf of The Athletic that if he could have, he would have made some “surprising” healthy scratches tonight as he looks to get his team back on track. Dallas doesn’t really have the option to do that right now as several players are on the COVID protocol.

Whether Klingberg would have been one of those isn’t clear, but it’s obvious that the team is preparing for a time without the pending UFA. At the time of this writing, he has the fifth-most ice time among Dallas defenders tonight, only ahead of partner Joel Hanley.

One thing to note when it comes to Klingberg speculation is that the 29-year-old defenseman has does not have any trade protection in his current contract and could be sent anywhere. His $4.25MM cap hit could also make him rather palatable for even the most cap-strapped contenders, depending on what comes back to Dallas. Through 29 games this season (before tonight), Klingberg has 17 points.

John Klingberg Clarifies Trade Rumors

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The Dallas Stars had a brilliant comeback to topple the Pittsburgh Penguins today, with goals from Denis Gurianov, Joe Pavelski, and Roope Hintz to take the team to 17-12-2 on the season. One of the assists on Pavelski’s game-tying goal went to John Klingberg, a player who has been in the news lately due to a report that he requested a trade out of Dallas recently.

Klingberg was asked specifically about that report and the trade rumors that have surrounded him all season, and explained his side of the story (video via Bally Sports Southwest):

Yeah I don’t think it’s entirely true. It’s not like I’ve been going up and asking ’I want to get traded now.’ Nothing like that. It’s something that’s been going on with the [contract] negotiations and stuff like that.

I’m not going to lie, it’s been a few frustrating years individually. As a player it all ends up coming to your next contract, obviously. I’ve been a Dallas Star since day one. I’ve been pretty clear that I want to stay here. I grew up here. I had my daughter here. At the end of the day it’s a business, but it’s a business on both sides. I have to take care of my part as well. It’s been standing still. 

After last season I was pretty clear that I wanted to start negotiating right away and see where we were at. They wanted some time with free agency, the draft, and stuff like that. I understand that, but at the same time I’ve been here proving the kind of player I’ve been for eight years now. Other guys have signed right before the season and I wanted to do that as well. Lately it’s just been going more quieter and quieter. 

For me as a player, I don’t feel as though I’ve been appreciated in that way, when we don’t even negotiate. It’s quiet. So for me as a player, and with my agent, we talked with Jim [Nill] a couple months back, and he agreed we could start talking with other GMs to see where we were at. Negotiation wise with the Stars has been very quiet, so it’s been a little disappointing. 

Klingberg, 29, is in the final season of a seven-year, $29.75MM contract signed in 2015. He currently carries a $4.25MM cap hit and is earning $6MM in actual salary this season. He has been eligible to sign an extension since the start of last offseason, with reports indicating that he was looking for a new eight-year contract in the range of $62-66MM. That would represent a substantial raise, but not one that would put him ahead of teammate Miro Heiskanen, who signed an eight-year, $67.6MM deal last July.

He’s not the only big-ticket player that is on an expiring deal in Dallas either. Pavelski and Alexander Radulov are both pending unrestricted free agents, while Gurianov and Jason Robertson are both set to become restricted free agents.

Even while these rumors have swirled around Klingberg, his play has remained relatively strong. Through 26 games he is averaging almost 22 minutes a night and has 17 points. While there has been an obvious shift to Heiskanen as the team’s lead defensemen, Klingberg is still an extremely important part of the Stars’ roster and a trade would certainly weaken them for any potential playoff push they have in mind.

With the win today, the team has now taken four in a row and climbed within one point of the Winnipeg Jets for fifth in the Central Division. They’re still six points behind the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche.

Latest On John Klingberg

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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.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Central Notes: Klingberg, Forsberg, Johnson

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The Hurricanes have inquired about the availability of Stars defenseman John Klingberg, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports (video link).  The 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract and a report earlier in the season suggested that he was seeking a max-term eight-year extension worth over $60MM, a price tag that Dallas clearly hasn’t been willing to meet yet.  He’s off to a quiet start to his season with no goals and seven assists in 15 games although his track record suggests he’ll turn things around offensively.  The fit in Carolina is interesting as they’re already using LTIR and don’t have the cap space to take on Klingberg’s $4.25MM AAV; they’d need Dallas to retain or to send close to matching money the other way.  They already have a strong back end and Klingberg would certainly give them a big boost but it’s the type of trade that is more plausible closer to the trade deadline than this early in the season.

Elsewhere around the Central:

  • The Predators will soon have a decision to make on pending UFA winger Filip Forsberg. Do they re-sign him and keep trying to win with their current core or go in a different direction to shake things up?  Adam Vingan of The Athletic makes the case (subscription link) that Nashville should take the latter option over running the risk of being saddled with another high-priced contract on a core that already has over $46MM in commitments for 2024-25.  Considering that core probably isn’t good enough to contend, moving on from Forsberg – likely making him a rental trade at the deadline – would be another critical step in GM David Poile’s shakeup, one that saw Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Ellis head elsewhere this past summer.
  • The Blackhawks were hoping to have center Tyler Johnson back soon but it doesn’t appear as if that will be the case. Interim head coach Derek King told reporters including Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link) that the veteran isn’t as far along in his recovery as they hoped from an undisclosed injury that has kept him out for the last week and a half.  Johnson is in his first season with Chicago after being acquired from Tampa Bay but has been limited to just eight games so far due to injuries while he has just a goal and two assists when he has been in the lineup.

Latest On John Klingberg Extension Talks

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John Klingberg is facing down quite the predicament this season. Playing on an expiring contract – a contract that has made him a bargain for the Dallas Stars for many years – Klingberg is planning his future. The talented defenseman has watched a number of defensemen, unrestricted and restricted free agents alike, sign massive, long-term extensions over the past few months. Unsurprisingly, Klingberg has expressed his interest in joining this group with his next deal. Klingberg, 29, would be one of, if not the top defender on the open market if he makes it there this summer and could command such a contract. Yet, Klingberg has also been adamant about his desire to stay in Dallas. The Stars just gave fellow rearguard Miro Heiskanen an eight-year, $67.6MM extension and have both Esa Lindell and Ryan Suter signed for three more years beyond 2021-22 at substantial cap numbers. Can Klingberg land the deal he wants in Dallas?

Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek was the first to put hard numbers to the hypothetical, reporting that Klingberg was seeking a a max-term deal in the $62-66MM range. This would put him just below his young teammate Heiskanen over the same number of years. This would likely be a palatable scenario for the Stars to keep their elite top-four together without paying more for Klingberg, who would be 37 when his next deal expired, than for Heiskanen, who will be as old as Klingberg is now.

Unfortunately, that may be a pipedream for the Stars. Klingberg is among the top ten scoring defensemen in the NHL over the course of his current contract. Why should he settle for an AAV of $7.75-8.25MM as Marek suggests when he has outscored the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Seth Jones, and Darnell Nurse – all of similar age and experience – and they each came in at $9MM+ on recent deals? The Athletic’s Saad Yousef claims that Marek’s numbers are merely a starting point. He has heard from sources that Klingberg is chasing that $9-9.5MM AAV and on a long-term deal, knowing this could be his last chance at a big pay day given his age.

Klingberg’s camp has not drawn a line in the sand on their numbers just yet as the defenseman truly does wish to stay in Dallas. Yousef also notes that even at this elevated, fair-market asking price, the Stars can still afford to re-sign Klingberg and likely will do just that if he performs well early this season. There could be some wiggle room for Klingberg to take a slightly shorter deal or come in a little lower than his comparable given his age and the “hometown discount” factor. However, the pressure is on for the Stars to work out those kinks and come to an agreement. The longer the season wears on, the longer Klingberg has to prove he is elite and the prize of the free agent class, driving up his bargaining power on contract talks. Both sides want to see the relationship extended, but those odds go down the longer they wait. Dallas is prepared for that possibility, but that would make it no less of a major blow if Klingberg walks away.

Injury Notes: Klingberg, Senators, Dowd

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It looks like the Dallas Stars will receive a huge boost for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night in the form of a healthy John Klingberg. Head coach Rick Bowness said Sunday morning that Klingberg “should” return, but that the team won’t have full confirmation until tomorrow. The 29-year-old defenseman was injured in the team’s season opener and missed the succeeding four games, playing just 10:21 before suffering a lower-body injury. He’ll look to provide a boost with his offensive instincts to a team that’s scored just ten goals through their first five games.

More injury notes from around the league:

  • There’s some updates on the injury front in Ottawa, as TSN reports goalie Matt Murray has been moved to injured reserve with a neck injury after being run into by the Rangers’ Chris Kreider on Saturday afternoon. He’ll miss at least the next ten days. It also appears center Shane Pinto will be out for a shorter term than expected, as head coach D.J. Smith he’s only expected to be absent for a week or two. A prompt return would be a good break for both him and the team, as Pinto had begun to impress in a top-six role.
  • Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette says the status of Nic Dowd for the team’s one-game road trip to Ottawa on Monday night is in question. Dowd is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He played in all of the team’s overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, so even if he does miss that contest, it doesn’t appear he’ll be out for any sort of term. The native of Huntsville, Alabama has one goal in five games this season.

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