John Klingberg believes a new voice in the room could be just what he needs to help take his game to the next level.

The Dallas Stars defenseman has already played under two coaches in only four seasons in the NHL, and will soon skate for his third bench boss in Jim Montgomery when training camp opens next month.

But Klingberg believes Montgomery, who is making his NHL debut after spending the last five seasons at the University of Denver, can help round out his game.

"I want to be 'the guy,' sure," Klingberg told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "But if I'm going to be a true, true No. 1, I have to play more defensive minutes. That's maybe something I have a chance to do this year. I want to take that next step and prove to the coaches that they can trust me defensively as well."

While Klingberg has been no stranger to scoring, wrapping last season with 67 points, he's often been criticized for his apparent flaws in the defensive end. That point was driven home when Klingberg, who finished one point shy of the league lead for points by defensemen, finished a distant sixth in Norris Trophy voting, receiving just a single first-place ballot.

The 26-year-old led all Dallas defensemen with more than 24 minutes a game, while averaging more than three minutes nightly on the man advantage. However, he was infrequently called upon for more defensive assignments, as his ice time on the penalty kill ranked seventh among Stars rearguards.

Furthermore, Klingberg received plenty of favorable ice time last season as he started nearly 55 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. Only 18 defenders (less than one per team) exceeded that number, while the next closest Stars defenseman trailed Klingberg by more than three percent.

As the blue-liner looks to build his game, he had the opportunity to share his ideas with Montgomery, who spent some time in Klingberg's native Sweden to not only meet the defenseman, but also better familiarize himself with his new lineup. In all, it appears the brief introduction went over well.

"The great thing is, the coach knows what I think and I know what he thinks," Klingberg said. "We're already a step ahead of the game."

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Barry Trotz's vision helped guide the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup. Now, the 56-year-old is confident that a similar vision, one that emphasizes defense and preaches accountability, can help restore the New York Islanders as a winning franchise

"There's going to be change. It's going to be structurally, on and off the ice, expectations are going to change," Trotz told The Athletic's Arthur Staple. "Nothing against any former regimes, but we have our own vision of what we want to do, how we're going to do it.

"They've done a lot of good things here. There's certain things in the way things are managed or established, the rules or how you do things. To me, culture change is an attitude - getting the right attitude, standing for something."

Related - Islanders legend Trottier: Lamoriello, Trotz bring credibility to franchise

Most importantly, it's up to Trotz and his staff, many of whom followed him from Washington, to shore up the team's biggest weakness: its play in its own end.

"One of the easiest things to correct, if there's a commitment and a buy-in, is keeping the puck out of your net," Trotz added. "We'll need a bigger buy-in, we'll put some structure, we'll make sure the details are there and we'll make players accountable. If they're not, we'll get someone who can be accountable."

Trotz's system will be tested in trying to clean up the Islanders' leaky defensive coverage. New York allowed a league-worst 296 goals last season, more than any team in the last decade.

After rotating between goalies Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss last year, the team will turn to a new starter in Robin Lehner, who inked a one-year deal in free agency. Lehner, 27, posted a 42-61-22 record with a .916 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA over the last three seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.

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The Edmonton Oilers are giving Scottie Upshall a chance to crack their opening day roster, announcing Sunday they have signed the veteran forward to a professional tryout.

The 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the St. Louis Blues and is coming off a 2017-18 campaign that saw him post seven goals and 19 points in 63 games.

Upshall was originally drafted sixth overall by the Nashville Predators in 2002. A veteran of 759 games, he's put up 138 goals and 285 games across 15 seasons.

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The Edmonton Oilers are giving Scottie Upshall a chance to crack their opening day roster, announcing Sunday they have signed the veteran forward to a professional tryout.

The 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the St. Louis Blues and is coming off a 2017-18 campaign that saw him post seven goals and 19 points in 63 games.

Upshall was originally drafted sixth overall by the Nashville Predators in 2002. A veteran of 759 games, he's put up 138 goals and 285 games across 15 seasons.

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Niklas Kronwall has over 12 NHL seasons under his belt, but he enters the 2018-19 campaign knowing it could be his last.

The 37-year-old Kronwall is among the oldest players on the Detroit Red Wings roster and with teams now favoring younger stars over seasoned veterans, he's realistic about where he stands.

"I know where I'm at right now. A year from now I don't know where I'll be at," Kronwall said, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "I'd love to sign [for] another year but let's face it. The team's getting younger. I'm getting older. The game's getting faster. I'm not the same player I was 10 years ago. But I'm going to do what I can this year both on the ice and off the ice. And just try to be as efficient as I possibly can."

Kronwall is entering the final season of a seven-year, $33.25-million contract. While he'd love to sign on for another tour of duty, if this is the end for the native of Stockholm, Sweden, he's appreciative of what the Red Wings organization has done for him.

"If this happens to be the end of the road, I would be more than happy with the journey that I've had and more than thankful to the Ilitch family and (general manager) Kenny Holland for giving me the opportunity that I have for being able to be with the same team for my entire career," Kronwall, said. "We'll see what happens.

"I've been fortunate enough to play in Detroit all these years and I have a tough time seeing myself in a different jersey."

Kronwall won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 and ranks fourth in franchise scoring by a defenseman.

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Niklas Kronwall has over 12 NHL seasons under his belt, but he enters the 2018-19 campaign knowing it could be his last.

The 37-year-old Kronwall is among the oldest players on the Detroit Red Wings roster and with teams now favoring younger stars over seasoned veterans, he's realistic about where he stands.

"I know where I'm at right now. A year from now I don't know where I'll be at," Kronwall said, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "I'd love to sign [for] another year but let's face it. The team's getting younger. I'm getting older. The game's getting faster. I'm not the same player I was 10 years ago. But I'm going to do what I can this year both on the ice and off the ice. And just try to be as efficient as I possibly can."

Kronwall is entering the final season of a seven-year, $33.25-million contract. While he'd love to sign on for another tour of duty, if this is the end for the native of Stockholm, Sweden, he's appreciative of what the Red Wings organization has done for him.

"If this happens to be the end of the road, I would be more than happy with the journey that I've had and more than thankful to the Ilitch family and (general manager) Kenny Holland for giving me the opportunity that I have for being able to be with the same team for my entire career," Kronwall, said. "We'll see what happens.

"I've been fortunate enough to play in Detroit all these years and I have a tough time seeing myself in a different jersey."

Kronwall won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 and ranks fourth in franchise scoring by a defenseman.

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Leon Draisaitl doesn't think the Edmonton Oilers are going to replicate last season's subpar result.

"I think we're too good of a team where we're not at least competing in the playoffs or not in the race," the Oilers forward told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger on Thursday. "And even if we are, that's probably not good enough. We want to make the playoffs and I think we have the team to do it. Now it's up to the players to show it."

The Oilers finished with the NHL's ninth-worst record in 2017-18 after qualifying for the postseason for the first time in 11 years and advancing to the second round in the prior campaign.

Edmonton won only 36 games last season, but Draisaitl appears motivated to ensure the club gets back in the playoff hunt.

"We, as players, need to take ownership and be the best team we can be," he said. "I think that last year we weren't the team that we are, or that we want to be. Seasons like that happen, but we have to make sure it doesn't happen again."

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