NHL Rumors: Ducks May Extend Star Defenceman Instead Of Trading Him

Thought of as possibly the best rental defenceman expected to be available at the 2023 trade deadline, the Anaheim Ducks may not be so quick to give up John Klingberg, Pierre Lebrun brought up.

Klingberg would probably bring the Ducks a sizable return if they were to trade him at the deadline. It has been reported that a second-pairing defenceman will likely cost a first-round pick this season to acquire. So even though Klingberg is playing on the second pair, he is a top-two calibre defenceman.

The Ducks would be smart to attempt to sign Klingberg as defenders with his kind of offensive skill don't come around very often. It isn't as easy as it seems to just draft a player and expect he will turn out great. If the Ducks already have a player with lots of skill on their back-end, they will need that type of talent to pull themselves out of a rebuild. The Ducks are close to doing just that, so at a certain point they must hang onto the good players they have.

The right side of the Ducks' defence would be set for a long time if they were to sign Klingberg. He and Jamie Drysdale would make up the top four while many of the top defensive prospects for the team play the left side. Klingberg wouldn't be standing in anyone's way and he will continue to provide offence and underrated defensive production for the Ducks if the team does keep him around.