There may be fewer “What If’s” over the last two decades in Edmonton than what would’ve happened if Oscar Klefbom was never forced out of the game due to injury.
Drafted by the Oilers in the first round of the 2011 draft, he took some time to develop, getting his first taste of the NHL in 2013-14, before breaking into the league on a full-time basis the following campaign. It didn’t take long for him to become an impact player for the team, munching minutes and taking on top competition during the peak of his 378-game career with the Oilers. He formed a formidable pairing with Adam Larsson during that time, as the duo offered an excellent blend of offence and defence.
But his shoulder didn’t allow him to keep on, playing his last NHL games during 2020’s qualifying round against the Chicago Blackhawks. While he wouldn’t lace up the skates for the Oilers again, there was an opportunity for him to remain in the organization.
Klefbom, now 31, saw his contract expire after 2022-23, spending the final three on the long-term injured reserve and could’ve worked for the team after that point without there being an issue with that contract he had.
In an interview in his hometown of Karlstad, Sweden, Klefbom said he had asked the Oilers to keep his injuries under the radar during his playing days.
“It was a choice I made. I talked to Edmonton about wanting to keep a very low profile about what would happen and how the situation was,” he said. “They were completely fine with that. From my side, it was also because I found it so hard to talk about it.”