The Anaheim Ducks have been quiet this trade deadline which is unusual for a bottom-basement team in the NHL. The Ducks have a few veteran players that could be moved prior to March 3rd, with the biggest name being defenseman John Klingberg. Klingberg arrived in Anaheim this past off-season after no team was willing to give him the big contract he was seeking. He settled for a one-year $7 million prove-it deal with the Ducks, and this season hasn’t gone his way. The 30-year-old defenseman has had a down year, not just offensively but especially defensively, as he’s sometimes become a liability. While this may hurt his trade value, it will hurt his leverage this offseason when he again looks for a big contract. With the only contention the Ducks are in being the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, it’s time for them to move on and capitalize on the trade market for a veteran defenseman.
While Klingberg is having a down year, he still provides a veteran presence capable of playing top-four minutes and providing offense from the blue line. He has eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points in 50 games while having a minus-28 rating. Multiple teams on the market are still looking to add to their defensive corps as Klingberg joins Jakob Chychrun and Vladislav Gavrikov as the top names available.
The price for acquiring the right-shot defenseman should be a pick and a prospect. The price will make Klingberg the better choice for a contender, as the Ducks are willing to retain 50% of his salary as they really don’t care to retain Klingberg long-term. It will be a mutual departure between the Ducks and Klingberg as he wants to get a chance to recover from this season to sign something meaningful this off-season, hopefully. Look for the ducks to eat 50% and bring expiring cap in to make it work. By doing this, the Ducks will help increase the return they get for Klingberg, as extra picks and prospects will help with their current rebuild.
It’s been a crazy Trade Deadline so far, and it seems teams are just getting started, as plenty of trades are still to come over the next few days. With Friday, March 3rd now only three days away, expect a trade to come together quickly as teams around the NHL continue to load up on talented players. It will be a wait-and-see situation if the Ducks and general manager Pat Verbeek can capitalize on Klingberg’s expiring contract.
