Could Marc Bergevin be tempted to call the Dallas Stars?
According to reporter Matthew DeFranks assigned to cover the Dallas Stars, some big names could be available in Dallas very soon. According to him, if the Stars were to be on track to miss the playoffs for a second straight year, they could be tempted to deal John Klingberg, Alexander Radulov and Joe Pavelski, three established NHL veterans.
One name among them particularly catches my attention, the one of offensive defenseman John Klingberg.
The 29-year-old will be in the final year of his seven-year contract, signed in 2013, where he has a $4.250 million payroll impact.
The Swede is a purely offensive defenseman, collecting points by the ton, hence his 327 points, 65 goals, in 478 NHL games. He even had a 67-point season in 2017-2018. However, since the arrival of Miro Heiskanen with the big club, Klingberg has had much less responsibility.
This is where Marc Bergevin could show his hand. The Habs defense is sorely lacking offensively on paper. Alexander Romanov, Chris Wideman and Jeff Petry are the best options to get the offense going again. It's not a disaster, but if a defenseman of Klingberg's caliber was available, why wouldn't Marc Bergevin be tempted to acquire his services? He could be a great complement to Ben Chiarot, who would limit the defensive damage caused by Klingberg, who is far from being a master at defending his territory.
However, given that Klingberg will be in the last year of his contract, an addition of this magnitude will have to come with a contract extension ideally. Marc Bergevin will not pay the moon for a rental player, I'm sure. If a contract extension was on the table, it could be very feasible.
Either way, if you want to get something, you have to give something back. Acquiring Klingberg would mean giving away at least a first round pick, plus other pieces of your organization.
The Canadiens' goal is to win and Klingberg has playoff experience. He was in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final with the Stars, where he had an impressive 21 points in 26 games during his playoff run.
This is just a guess, but I would have to say that Klingberg's profile is very interesting. He would fit very well in the lineup. Plus, by adding Klingberg, you instantly improve your already massive offense.
Yes, he's a very high-risk defenseman, but I'd be willing to take a chance on him, considering his offensive contribution. His vision and wrist shot are incredible. He was a fifth round pick of the Stars in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Check out some of John Klingberg's highlights :
