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Luke Schenn | D
Simon Benoit | D
TJ Brodie | D
Carl Dahlstrom | D
Joel Edmundson | D
John Klingberg
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Four Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Vision: Klingberg’s offensive instincts are outstanding. He understands when to distribute the puck and when to the force the issue himself. That hockey sense allows him to sneak past defenders, join the rush or detect open teammates in scoring areas on a regular basis.
Skating: Though he’s certainly no slug out there, Klingberg’s agility is more important than his speed. Few defensemen in the world are better at walking the blue line to shake opponents and create better shooting angles. This elusiveness also serves him well against the forecheck, as he can retrieve the puck and snake his way to a clean zone exit.
Shot: Klingberg isn’t necessarily a goal machine, but his shot is a legitimate threat because he recognizes how to filter it through traffic for screen, tip and rebound opportunities. This is particularly true on the power play, where he ranks among the most productive blueliners over the past few years.
WEAKNESSES
Defense: The trade-off for his offensive contributions comes in the form or subpar defense. Whether he’s out-competed in the trenches or he simply doesn’t care enough to stay on his mark, Klingberg often falters in his end. He’s also become reluctant to challenge puck-carriers in the neutral zone, leading to easy entries.
Careless: When he’s off his game, Klingberg is a hot mess. He’ll expose too much of the puck or haphazardly throw it into traffic in a hopeless attempt to create a quality chance. He isn’t exactly a high-motor player either, so once he commits a giveaway, his team’s outlook goes downhill fast.
