John Klingberg is entering the final year of his seven-year contract, and is part of one of the deepest top-fours in the NHL. Klingberg, 29, has one year remaining with $4.25 cap hit (actual salary of $6 million).
Since joining the NHL in 2014, Klingberg ranks ninth among defensemen in scoring with 327 points (65 goals, 262 assists) in 478 games played.
Mike Heika of NHL.com reports Klingberg is looking to get a long-term extension done, but Klingberg has placed himself statistically in a very high dollar range while at the same time getting to an age where a long-term deal might not be best for the team.
Heika went on to say, the Stars are already committed to Miro Heiskanen ($8.45 million) for eight years, Esa Lindell ($5.8 million) for four years and Ryan Suter ($3.65 million) for four years, that makes this negotiation pretty tricky.
Klingberg is in the prime of his career and should produce another solid season in terms of points and puck possession. It is likely the Stars will not be able to afford a high AVV long-term deal.
If the Stars cannot work out a deal by the 2022 NHL trade deadline, do the Stars keep him for a Stanley Cup run or trade him and get assets in return instead of loosing him for nothing.
