Edmonton Oilers
Oilers Leading Charge to Sign Klingberg, Working UFA Loophole
The Edmonton Oilers are rumored to be among the leaders in trying to sign John Klingberg and might use a UFA loophole to a get a deal done.
As per NHL insider Darren Dreger, there is an update on the talk of John Klingberg trying to make an NHL comeback. On Tuesday, Dreger reported that 5-7 teams were in the mix. He name-dropped the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Vancouver Canucks. Today, another team is interested and a frontrunner has emerged.
“Refreshing the Klingberg watch. As reported last night, 5-7 teams very interested in his return. Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa are in the mix. Also hearing the Dallas Stars are in the chase as well. Colorado? Some feel the Oilers are now a primary target. Too soon to say.”
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug jumped in and commented on the Oilers’ potential interest. He wrote, “Definitely an interesting fit for Oilers. Has a chance to win, and potentially play a big role if he performs well.” Rishaug added that it should be remembered that because Klingberg was injured last season, any one-year deal would be eligible to have bonus structure in them. This gives the Oilers some cap options, potentially pushing Klingberg’s cap hit to next year’s numbers.
PuckPedia offered a bit more detail. They wrote, “As a player with 400+ NHL games who was on Injured Reserve for 100+ days last year, Klingberg is eligible to sign a 1-year deal that includes performance bonuses.”
What are the Oilers Thinking Concerning Klingberg?
Rishaug’s comments about the cap hit are intriguing, even if they don’t necessarily prove the Oilers are going this route. But, where there is smoke, there’s often fire, and if Dreger is reporting the Oilers are said to be among the leaders in this chase, and Rishaug is pointing out a loophole to maneuver with the cap, it’s logical to assume the Oilers are looking at this closely.
This will lead to questions about the size of the contract Edmonton might be prepared to offer and how it could affect next season’s cap.
Whether Klingberg is the right fit remains to be seen. He’s not likely to run the power play, although he could be used on the second unit. He’s not necessarily a defensive specialist, so his blue-line partner would have to be monitored.
Is he a clear upgrade over what the Oilers have? If he’s just a six or seven on the blue line… maybe.
Next: Insider Names Attractive Buyer to “Keep Eye On” in Canucks Trade
More News
