The Edmonton Oilers announced some unpleasant news today, which seems to have been a long time coming. Oscar Klefbom, a defenceman, has formally declared his retirement from the NHL. Klefbom had not appeared in an NHL game since the 2019-20 playoffs. In August 2020, the Oilers lost their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series to the Chicago Blackhawks in four games. Klefbom had not played in the NHL since that time.
The Edmonton Oilers Defenceman Oscar Klefbom Retires From the NHL
When healthy, Oscar Klefbom enjoyed a successful career with the Edmonton Oilers. However, it is stated that Klefbom has been dealing with this issue for the majority of his NHL career. The Oilers announced in December 2020 that Klefbom would have surgery to try to rehabilitate his shoulder. In addition, he would have to miss the 2020-21 season. He was eventually ruled out for 2021-22 as well. He never fully recovered from the injuries and subsequent surgery.
Klefbom’s Retirement Was a Long Time Coming It Seems
Here we are today, nearly four years after Klefbom played in the NHL. Klefbom, 31, and the Edmonton Oilers organization as a whole had always believed he’d be able to play again. Both the team and the player stayed positive. However, it appears that the moment has come for Klefbom to prioritize his long-term health and declare his retirement from the NHL. Klefbom still has a desire to continue in some way with the game he enjoys. However, there is yet no indication of what this would involve.
Looking back on his career numbers, Oscar Klefbom was a valuable member of the Oilers’ roster. In 378 NHL games spanning seven seasons, he averaged 22:49 minutes per game. In addition, he had 34 career goals and 122 assists for 156 points. He played an important role on the Oilers’ blueline, particularly during the team’s 2017 playoff run. Even though it was a while ago, his backend abilities will undoubtedly be missed by the remaining Oilers. Here’s wishing him the best in his post-NHL career.
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