As his contract negotiations have hit a standstill, Stars defenseman John Klingberg said Saturday afternoon that he doesn’t “feel that I’ve been appreciated in that way when we don’t even negotiate.”

Klingberg, who spoke to reporters after the Stars’ 3-2 comeback win over the Penguins on Saturday afternoon, is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. On Friday afternoon, The Fourth Period reported that Klingberg requested a trade from Dallas.

Here was Klingberg’s response to the rumor, during which he said that he has permission to speak to other teams about a contract extension.

NHL

Oilers Don’t Need & Can’t Afford John Klingberg

“I don’t think it’s entirely true,” Klingberg said. “It’s not like I’ve been going out there and asking ‘I want to get traded now,’ or something like that. It’s something that’s been going on with the negotiations and stuff like that. I’m not going to lie, it’s been a few frustrating years individually. As a player, it all ends up coming to your next contract, obviously. I’ve been a Dallas Star since Day One. I’ve been pretty clear that I want to stay here. I grew up here. I had my daughter here and all that.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business. I understand it’s a business on both sides. I’ve got to take care of my part as well. It’s been standing still. I feel like I wanted to, after last season, I was pretty clear that I wanted to start negotiating right away and see where we were out. They wanted some time with free agency and draft and stuff like that. I understand that. At the same time, I feel like I’ve been here proving what kind of player I’ve been for eight years now.

“Other guys have signed right before the season before. I wanted to do that as well. Lately, it has been going more quietly and quietly. For me, as a player, I don’t feel that I’ve been appreciated in that way when we don’t even negotiate. It’s quiet. For me, as a player, my agent, we talked to Jim a couple months back. He agreed that we could start talking with other GMs and see where we were at. Negotiation-wise, the Stars have been very quiet.

“It’s a little bit disappointing for sure, but it’s a business.”

Stars general manager Jim Nill declined to comment.

Klingberg wants to be in Dallas. He just doesn’t know if the Stars want him to be.