According to The Hockey News , John Klingberg’s time in Dallas is likely coming to an end because the defenseman is looking for a “gargantuan raise on his next contract.” Having played for the Stars for multiple seasons at a bargain price, he’s a UFA this summer, and his close to $8 million ask per season is not something the Stars are keen to accommodate.
Because he needs to sign a deal that sets him up for the rest of his career and because he’ll be 30 by the time his next deal starts, he’s likely going to be on the move with a number of teams bidding for his services, even if signing him to a seven-year deal is risky via free agency (or an eight-year deal if a team trades for him first.)
The site took a look at the most likely trade destinations for the defenseman and came up with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and New York Islanders as the top five destinations.
For the Bruins, Klingberg might be a backup plan to Jakob Chychrun, who will cost considerably more to acquire. With Tuukka Rask coming back and Patrice Bergeron’s impending free agency clearly on people’s minds, the Bruins will be inclined to go for it this season.
The Kings took some offseason gambles that paid off and are 3rd in the Pacific Division. Klingberg could be a nice addition if he can co-exist with Drew Doughty.
When it comes to the Wild, the article points out:
“Half their starting D-corps is out of the lineup right now: Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin and Alex Goligoski. Spurgeon is still week to week with a lower-body injury. Klingberg could be welcome relief in the short term and, for the rest of the season, could help a power play that has struggled in 2021-22.”
They argue the Nashville Predators might adopt a buyer’s personality after a surprise season where what many believed would be a seller’s team has been competitive. Meanwhile, the Islanders could use a shot of offense and Klingberg would obviously provide that.
More must-reads: