Klein is... Ladislav Smid-esque? How would they compare?
Meh. He's never going to be a top pairing guy IMO. Klein may not be offensively as flashy but he's probably better suited to what AV wants in an all around defender.
Klein is a solid defenceman signed at a reasonable rate (2.9M) for a few years. Del Zotto is a pending RFA and with an uncertain payday, as well as Del Zotto being pushed down the depth chart, it makes sense on that level. Del Zotto may go on to be the better player, but this is a move for stability over risk
I think this means the end of Girardi in NY either by trade or FA. Klein isn't as good as him, but after Girardi gets paid almost assuredly be better value.
So in one week, #Preds deal Kevin Klein in first season of five-year, $14.5M deal & Matt Hendricks in first season of four-year, $7.4M pact.
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So in one week, #Preds deal Kevin Klein in first season of five-year, $14.5M deal & Matt Hendricks in first season of four-year, $7.4M pact.
I dont think they're trying to shed salary, Hendricks was just dramatically underperforming for his pay grade and they needed more mobility and offence from their blueline, they werent going to get that out of Klein and the solidity of the rest of their defencemen made Klein expendable.
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