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Dallas Stars: Last Year’s Grade, Next Year’s Guess: John Klingberg

By Summer LeBel

ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 27: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on December 27, 2017 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 27: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on December 27, 2017 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It’s the last day of August, and it’s the last day of the Dallas Stars returning player grade series. It all comes down to John Klingberg.

The Dallas Stars defenseman had a fantastic season and he spent most of the year in the discussion for the Norris Trophy.

Last Season

John Klingberg’s 2017-18 Grade: A+

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The only A+ grade of this season goes to Klingberg, and rightfully so. He had an outstanding season in every facet of his game and deserved the Norris talk he was getting.

Offensively, he was fourth on the team in both points (67) and offensive point share (5.4). He also had the highest overall point share on the team at 10.5. Defensively, his relative Corsi was second on the team.

In addition to the highest ice time on the team, Klingberg also had the highest power play ice time, averaging 3:39 a game. On the man advantage alone, he notched 22 assists. He played the penalty kill as well, though not as heavily as the other defensemen on the team.

His numbers weren’t just high on the team. They’re also high on the league leaderboard. He was tied for second in points of all defensemen with Brent Burns, just one point behind first place John Carlson’s 68. He also led all defensemen in assists.

Klingberg is very much an offensive defenseman, but that doesn’t mean his defense isn’t good. He doesn’t play a particularly physical game, but there are other defensemen for that. He’s low on the team in both blocked shots and hits, but that’s because his possession numbers are good and there’s no reason to hit or block if your team has the puck. Sure, he has room for improvement, but he’s doing a great job already.

Next Season

Last season was a stand-out for Klingberg, and next year could go one of two ways. There’s a chance this year was a run of good luck and next year won’t be as good. However, nothing he was doing is particularly unsustainable, so there’s a better chance that he’s just growing as a player and he’ll continue to improve in 2018-19.

By the standards of the Norris in most recent years, there’s no reason Klingberg can’t have a good season and get into the conversation again, but last year, the voters went a little more for defensive play and less for offensive play. If that’s the case again next year, Klingberg will want to step up his defensive game a little bit, but that’s still something he can work on either way.

Next. Last Year’s Grade, Next Year’s Guess: Tyler Seguin. dark

With Klingberg’s A+ awarded, the Dallas Stars returning player grades are complete, as is the month. With August finally over and preseason just a few weeks away, hockey will be back before we know it.

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