Ducks Trade Klingberg To The Wild

Photo: USA Today

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks traded John Klingberg to the Minnesota Wild for Andrej Sustr, the rights to Nikita Nesterenko, and a 4th round pick in 2025 according to Athletic’s Joe Smith. The Ducks later confirmed the trade.

During the summer the Ducks signed Klingberg to a one year deal worth $7 million to help Anaheim get to the cap floor. He played in 50 games this season with the Ducks recording 24 total points (8 goals + 16 assists).

This season Andrej Sustr played with the AHL Iowa Wild scoring two goals and 10 assists in 39 games. He was claimed of waivers by the Ducks during the 2021-22 season, where he played in 23 games with the Ducks and had 5 assists. Before that he appeared in five games with the Ducks during the 2018-19 season recording no points. He brings size to the blue line at 6’7″ 217 pounds and is a mobile two way defensemen. He has a good shot, though it hasn’t translated into much offensive scoring. Sustr will add depth to the Ducks blue line as he starts his third stint in Anaheim.

Nikita Nesterenko was drafted in the 6th round by the Minnesota Wild in 2019, but was not signed. He played at Boston College the past three seasons. He has 73 points in 93 games. Last season he had 11 goals and 19 assists in 32 games. Nesterenko has good size at 6″2″ 183 pounds and can make plays. He is a good skater and will go into the dirty areas. He is a pass first type of player and may literally “pass” up a scoring opportunity for himself. He will report to San Diego on an ATO according to General Pat Verbeek on Ducks Stream. The goal is to sign him to an Entry Level Contract next year.

The Ducks originally signed Klingberg with the hope of getting a first round draft pick at the trade deadline and that didn’t work out. In the days leading up to the draft, some thought the Ducks would maybe get a second or third round pick. Eventually Anaheim settled on a fourth round pick and brought back Sustr and the rights to Nesterenko. It may not be the ideal return General Manager Pat Verbeek wanted, but he still accomplished what he needed to do by getting an additional pick. He also picked up Sustr on the blueline since he traded away Klingberg and Kukilov.

Other Trades:

Today the Ducks also traded defenseman Austin Strand to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Chase Priskie. Strand played in 46 games with the San Diego Gulls this season. He scored two goals and had six assists. He also appeared in five games with the Ducks and didn’t register a point. He played well with Colton White in limited action in Anaheim this season.

Priskie recorded 9 total points (4 goals + 5 assists) in 42 games with the AHL Rochester Americans. He is a good two-way defenseman that can push the play up the ice. He skates well north to south and west to east. He has decent size at 6’0″ 185 pounds which helps him stay strong on the puck and win puck battles.

Yesterday the Ducks sent fan favorite Rocco Grimaldi and Logan Nijhoff to the Rockford Icehogs (Chicago AHL Affiliate) for future considerations.

Anaheim also traded Maxim Golod to Chicago for Dylan Sikura, who will report to San Diego. Golod spent the last three seasons playing in the AHL in San Diego and the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers. He has 12 goals and 31 assists in Tulas this season. He played well offensively while in the minors, but not well enough to get a shot in the NHL with Anaheim.

Sikura has played in 58 NHL games with Chicago, Vegas, and Colorado since the 2017-18 season. He has recorded three goals and 14 assists. This past season Sikura scored 14 goals and 18 assists with the Rockford Icedogs in 52 games. He is a highly-skilled offensive player and can make things happen when he is on the ice. He has good hands and skates very well. He does lack size and isn’t consistent night in and night out.

Lastly Anaheim was able to trade Henry Thrun earlier in the week, who said he would not sign with the Ducks. He was sent to San Jose for a 2024 3rd round draft pick.

Related Articles:

Ducks Trade Kulikov To Penguins 

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March 3rd, 2023