Summer School: Will Klingberg enjoy another Norris-worthy campaign?

As players get ready for the 2018-19 season under new head coach Jim Montgomery, let's take a look at what they did last season and where they can improve in a series we'll call "Summer School." Next up, DallasStars.com senior staff writer Mike Heika takes a look at defenseman John Klingberg:
Previous installments:Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin

John Klingberg

Position:Defenseman
Age:25
Height:6-foot-2
Weight: 177 pounds
Shoots: Right
2017-18 Stats: 82 GP, 8 G 59 A, 67 Pts, plus-10, 26 PIM
2018-19 Contract Status: Cap hit of $4.25 million

What happened last year

Klingberg finished third in scoring among NHL defensemen and was sixth in voting for the Norris Trophy. His 67 points (eight goals, 59 assists) gave him the fifth-best scoring season for a defenseman in Stars franchise history. Klingberg also had his biggest time on ice since joining the NHL in 2014 at 24:04, and led the team in SAT (shot attempt differential at even strength) at plus-187. Klingberg finished off his season by helping Sweden win the gold medal at the IIHF World Championships. He was named top defenseman at the tournament.

Heika's outlook

Since joining the NHL in 2014, Klingberg ranks fifth in points among defensemen at 214 (42 goals, 172 assists) and is 14th in SAT at plus-639. He is becoming one of the most consistent offensive defensemen in the league and is expected to be a regular candidate for the Norris Trophy. While he is not a physical player at 177 pounds, his defensive positioning is good and he ranks first on the team in plus-minus (plus-39) and SAT in his four-year career. Klingberg has four years remaining on his current contract at $4.25 million, so he's a bargain for the Stars. He also is in the prime of his career and is expected to be the team's minutes leader for years to come. Klingberg and Esa Lindell formed the team's top defensive pairing last season, and that's expected to continue under new head coach Jim Montgomery. However, with Julius Honka expected to become a regular on the blueline and Miro Heiskanen expected to make his debut in the lineup, there will be the opportunity to juggle pairs.
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They said it

"He's way more competitive than I expected. He has good gaps. I think he's way better defensively than people give him credit for. I'm looking at last year's film and he looks great. Then, what he does at the offensive blueline, you can't teach. It's nice to have that as part of your team arsenal." -- New Stars coach Jim Montgomery on what he has seen on film from John Klingberg

"I feel offensively I have been doing good, but I felt defensively I played a lot of bigger minutes and I think I played smarter with the puck. I thought it was a good year for me." -- Klingberg assessing his 2017-18 season

"What I love is he has the mentality that he thinks he can be (one of the best defensemen in the league) and he's pushing himself to get there. He's really just walking into his peak." -- Montgomery

"I feel like there's more stuff I can do to get even better. I can play more minutes defensively. Offensively, I can play better with the puck and create even more options on the ice…It's exciting. We have a lot of good prospects on D and I want to be that kind of guy that the coach can lean on. There's lots we can learn every day, and I'm still learning little tricks. We need to keep learning every month, every week, every day. We've been talking a lot about what we can do better." -- Klingberg
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
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