He also endured a few rocky seasons with the Sabres that ended in him being bought out. In his first year with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s gone from a high-profile free-agent signee to someone struggling to get into the lineup.

Dallas needs Klingberg more than the Oilers. Their other three right-shot D — Matt Dumba, Ilya Lyubushkin and Nils Lundkvist — haven’t scored a goal all season long. He wants to play on a Cup contender and wherever he signs, he’s in audition mode for next season.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Noah Philp joins Corey Perry and Kasperi Kapanen on the fourth line in his return to the NHL. Jeff Skinner's rocky tenure in Edmonton continues, as he's set to be a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Edmonton Oilers center Jeff Skinner, center ... looks to pass the puck as Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark pursues in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski ...

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The Oilers are heading toward the March 7 deadline in a position of strength but will explore avenues to improve.

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John Klingberg appeared in Oilers colours for the first time while Connor McDavid skated ahead of his disciplinary hearing.

The difference in the game was great goaltending from Washington’s Logan Thompson — who was strangely left off of the Team Canada roster — and the fact that the Edmonton power play without McDavid was anemic, with not one Grade A shot in three opportunities.

Hockey is a team sport, so even the best players can't do it alone. Every NHL team needs depth guys who perform roles the top dogs either can't or shouldn't do.

The Oilers will adjust their lineup for the first of his three games without Connor McDavid due to suspension on Tuesday at Rogers Place against the Capitals

Leon Draisaitl continued his MVP-type season with a three-point game. Zach Hyman buried two and could have had four. Calvin Pickard was strong early. And Corey Perry was in full-worm form with a highly effective, agitating display.