As camp unfolds, a new pairing emerges: John Klingberg and Ryan Suter

FRISCO, Texas -- Chemistry in hockey is a tricky thing.
It's one of the most important details in bringing a team's performance on ice together, but it's also one of the most difficult assets to locate.

So, when the Stars look to be shuffling all of their pairs on defense in training camp, it does seem like something worth watching. Stars head coach Rick Bowness said that the first three days of workouts were more about conditioning and repetition, but he's kept most of his lines and D-pairs together. Among the most noticeable of those combinations is John Klingberg with Ryan Suter.
Klingberg has been a leader on defense for the past six seasons, while Suter is one of the NHL's most consistent blueliners for 15 years. Putting them together could be a really good idea.
"We'll see how that chemistry works," Bowness said. "If you look at Ryan, and I've always been a fan of his, he's a very smart, cerebral player. He gets the puck and doesn't fool around with it. It's up quick, and it's on the tape and we're gone. He's very solid positionally. He makes very few mistakes. We'll see how that works out."
Suter is 36, so he's not the player who led the NHL in time on ice or made several visits to the All-Star Game a few years back. But he's very smart, he's still in good shape, and he's motivated by the fact he's on a new team. Minnesota bought out Suter and Zach Parise over the summer, and Suter then had the chance to pick the team he wanted to move to in free agency. He said there was a very good reason he selected the Stars.
"I think this team is primed," he said. "I think they've done a really good job of putting a good team together. At the end of the day, that's what made me decide to come here. We have a chance to win. With the young guys, the older guys, the leadership here, the coaching staff, the front office staff, it just seems like everybody's in it together. I've never been in an organization that has this good vibe like this."

And, of course, playing beside Klingberg is a nice perk. Both veterans understand that the NHL is a dynamic league where lines and pairings can change from game to game, but they also understand that it makes sense to put together two players who might have chemistry.
"We both think the game well," Suter said. "We both have that good hockey sense. It'll be a seamless transition into this partnership, for sure."
Suter has played with Jared Spurgeon in Minnesota and Shea Weber in Nashville, and he's played against Klingberg quite a bit, so he believes the two can get on the same page. He also knows that Klingberg's qualities fit his game quite naturally. In fact, the wily blueliner said the smartest thing to do is not think too much.
"Everybody's so similar, whether it's Spurgeon or Klinger, Weber," Suter said. "Everybody has to have that X-factor to play in the league. You've got to be able to skate. You've got to be able to shoot, pass, do all the little things."
Klingberg said that he feels like he knows Suter even before getting on the ice with him. Former Stars assistant coach Rick Wilson came to Dallas after a stint in Minnesota and talked a great deal about Suter's game in the 2017-18 season as a positive example of what his defensemen should be doing.
"I remember talking to him and he explained a lot about what Suter did and what made him so good," Klingberg said. "I feel like I know a lot about him. Obviously, you know him a little bit different when you see him like this, but as a player, I feel like I know pretty good how he plays. It's just about getting to know him as a person. I feel like we're steps ahead there."

If Klingberg and Suter work as a pair, that means Esa Lindell has to find a new partner. Lindell has played beside Klingberg for the past few seasons, but it looks like he might slot next to Miro Heiskanen initially. That would allow a third pair from the trio of Andrej Sekera, Jani Hakanpää and Joel Hanley.
Right now, Klingberg and Suter look like a pretty good fit three days in.
"You play within the system and then you be creative, let his skill take over," Suter said. "When he's up in the play, I'm obviously going to be covering for him. I think everyone tries to make things so complicated. It's a pretty simple thing. You put your players on the ice, and you let them go out and do their thing."
There will also be some interesting challenges off the ice for the potential pair. Suter, a Wisconsin native, played nine seasons with the Wild. He moved his family, which includes four children, to Dallas.
Klingberg is in the final year of his seven-year contract that has a cap hit of $4.25 million and could become a free agent next summer. He would love a long-term deal, but his new contract will start at age 30. He'd also love a huge raise (Seth Jones recently signed an extension with Chicago that will average $9.5 million), but the Stars might not want to make that kind of investment when they just signed Heiskanen to an extension that averages $8.45 million.
It's a lot to digest, and yet the players seem to be able to do just that.
"I want to have it done as quick as I can," Klingberg said. "I want to be a Dallas Star. It's pretty slow right now, but it is what it is. We'll see what happens."
If it gets done, then maybe the chemistry experiment can continue for a few years going forward.
Victory Club memberships are available now for 2021-22! Beyond season tickets, don't miss your chance to secure the best seats for Stars home games, plus exclusive benefits, members-only experiences and much more. Click here to learn more!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.