John Klingberg to Dallas Highlights Busy Sunday on Transaction Wire

John Klingberg (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

As Mike Heika intimated earlier this afternoon, John Klingberg is on his way to Dallas now officially. After last night's collapse in Big D at the hands of the Sharks, Dallas is looking to shake things up on defense. One way to do that is introducing new blood. Klingberg is 12th in league scoring with 4 goals and 8 assists in ten games. Many had suggested prior to the season that Klingberg could start the year in Dallas outright. Hip surgery in the offseason led to his start in the AHL. Now is his chance to place himself in the NHL.

I'm not sure that the callup of Klingberg is a one-to-one fix for what ails Dallas. Klingberg is more a scoring threat than a hard-nosed defenseman. The Stars appear to have no trouble scoring but need help keeping it out of their own net at both the NHL and AHL level.

As a result and in combination with some other activity on the ice yesterday, three players are coming up from Idaho. Mike Dalhuisen will make the trip to Charlotte to act as the seventh defenseman for the club. Jesse Root and Branden Troock will both come up as forward options for Derek Laxdal following the likely loss of Gemel Smith to injury. Smith was sucker punched last night by Carter Sandlak in the game in Charlotte. Sandlak earned a match penalty, and Smith was able to skate off under his own power. He did not return to the game.

Either Troock or Root will get a chance at the lineup with Texas at just 11 forwards now. It is possible more moves could be coming though. Antoine Roussel has a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety after his actions in the San Jose game on Saturday. If he is suspended, the NHL side will need another forward. Odds are that's Travis Morin, but it remains to be seen what happens with the hearing.