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Klingberg will be a healthy scratch after missing team meeting

John Klingberg

John Klingberg

AP

As if the Dallas Stars weren’t off to a tough enough start already, today comes word that defenseman John Klingberg will be a healthy scratch tonight against Minnesota for disciplinary reasons.

Stars head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that Klingberg missed a team meeting this morning, and that’s why he’ll be sitting versus the Wild.

“To me, it sums up our year,” Ruff said, per Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.

Combined with Johnny Oduya’s injury, the Klingberg scratch means the Stars defense tonight will feature the inexperienced likes of Julius Honka (making his NHL debut), Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell, and Jamie Oleksiak. Dan Hamhuis will be by far the most experienced of the Dallas defenders, followed by Jordie Benn.

The Stars (7-7-5) are coming off a 5-2 loss to Edmonton on Saturday. They have yet to string together more than two wins in a row this season, and it’s not just the goaltending that’s to blame.

Klingberg leads all Dallas skaters in average ice time (22:53). He has two goals and eight assists in 19 games, with a minus-9 rating.

Related: Healthy scratch sends Hamhuis a ‘strong message’