The Edmonton Oilers are gearing up for the Western Convention Finals in opposition to the Dallas Stars. That is the second West Remaining in a row to characteristic these two groups. Nonetheless, this yr’s matchup has just a few underlying narratives to debate. Considered one of these narratives revolves round veteran defenseman John Klingberg.
Klingberg spent most of his profession with the Stars. He turned one of many NHL’s greatest offensive defensemen in Dallas earlier than leaving in free company in the course of the 2022 offseason. Three groups later, he fits up for the Oilers in opposition to the Stars as soon as Sport 1 begins on Wednesday night time on the American Airways Heart in Dallas.
“I’m tremendous excited, they’re a extremely good workforce,” Klingberg mentioned about his former workforce, through NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest and Tracey Myers. “They been a great workforce for a few years and below [coach Pete DeBoer] I feel they took it to a different degree. They’re within the convention closing for the third yr in a row and that speaks for itself. They’re proper there, we’re proper there, it’s going to be a problem, it’s going to be a check. It’s actually thrilling for certain, it’s going to be enjoyable.
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The Stars are definitely trying ahead to battling the Oilers. Earlier than hitting the ice, although, they made their respect for Klingberg evident. The Oilers defenseman has struggled with accidents over the previous couple of seasons. Dallas is glad to see him again on the ice and contributing.
“I’m so glad for John,” Stars normal supervisor Jim Nill mentioned, through Van Diest and Myers. “John and I’ve an excellent relationship. He was an enormous a part of our workforce for a few years right here; I noticed him develop as a younger participant. I respect him a lot and to see what he’s gone by — not a straightforward surgical procedure that he went by — and to have the ability to come again and now he’s making an influence for them. I’m excited for him. He’s an excellent participant and a participant we’re going to have to look at carefully.”
Any pleasantries between the Stars and Klingberg shall be placed on maintain for the subsequent few weeks. Dallas and Edmonton each need to make the Stanley Cup Remaining in 2025. And Klingberg definitely desires to win the Stanley Cup earlier than his profession ends. As talked about, the Stars host Sport 1 of the West Remaining on Wednesday night time.