Klefbom (shoulder) isn't expected to play again, with general manager Ken Holland telling reporters Wednesday, "I'm not expecting Klef to play," per Tom Gazzola of TSN.ca.
Klefbom hasn't appeared in an NHL game since the 2019-20 campaign, so this news shouldn't come as a surprise to fantasy players. At this point, it seems Klefbom will retire having logged 378 games over seven seasons with the Oilers in which he notched 34 goals, 122 shots and 890 shots. Klefbom figures to spend the upcoming season on LTIR before his contract officially expires.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Could miss another season
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Klefbom (shoulder) has a "very slim chance" at playing during the 2021-22 season, Mark Spector of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Klefbom already missed the entire 2020-21 campaign with a shoulder injury that wasn't surgically repaired until late March. He tallied 34 points in 62 games during the 2019-20 season while averaging over 25 minutes of ice time. Edmonton's acquisition of Duncan Keith would lessen the blow of the 27-year-old being absent for another year.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Will undergo surgery
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Klefbom will undergo surgery on his injured shoulder in late March, Jason Gregor of OilersNation.com reports.
Klefbom won't play in 2020-21 due to his shoulder injury, but he's hoping to come back at full strength for the 2021-22 campaign. The 27-year-old blueliner racked up five goals, 29 assists, 159 shots and 180 blocks in 62 games last campaign, so his recovery will be one worth tracking for fantasy managers.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Won't play this season
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Klefbom (shoulder) will miss the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign, the team announced Monday.
According to the team's release, Klefbom is hoping to be fully fit for the 2021-22 season. In 62 games last year, the 26-year-old blueliner garnered five goals and 29 helpers and likely may have produced at a similar rate this year. Without Klefbom, the Oilers could utilize Ethan Bear alongside Darnell Nurse, which would likely come with increased responsibilities including the power play. The team will no doubt place Klefbom on long-term IR in order to save some cap space.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Will miss start of 2020-21
Rotowire
Klefbom is dealing with a shoulder injury that may require surgery and force him to miss a significant chunk of the 2020-21 campaign.
The fact that the team's release left open the possibility of Klefbom missing the entire season certainly doesn't bode well for a short-term absence. Once the defenseman makes a decision on whether to undergo surgery, the team should be able to provide a better timeline for return.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Mulling recovery options
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Klefboom is weighing all the possibilities to deal with injuries from last season, including surgery, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
The specifics of the injuries are unclear, but the possibility of surgery would keep the Swede out for an extended period of time. Klefbom supplied two assists while averaging 24:13 of ice time in the NHL's bubble, so his absence would be a major loss for the Oilers should he opt for surgery.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Dishes pair of helpers
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Klefbom had two assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
Klefbom had a hand in tallies by Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the contest. During the regular season, Klefbom posted 34 points, 18 of which came with a man advantage. He quarterbacks the top power-play unit for the Oilers, who led the league in power-play efficiency at 29.5 percent.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Paces Edmonton blueliners
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Klefbom recorded 34 points in 62 games prior to the league suspension of play in mid-March.
Though he's had trouble staying healthy the last few seasons, Klefbom's game continues to improve. He's just four points off his career-high 38 set in 2016-17 (in 20 additional games) and has also reached new personal bests in assists (29), ice time (25:25), power-play ice time (3:38), power-play points (18) and blocked shots (180). He leads the Oilers' back end in points and has received the fifth most ice time in the entire NHL, making him an asset every fantasy owner should covet. Just be mindful of Klefbom's unsightly minus-17 rating if your league counts that statistic.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Slings helper Monday
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Klefbom posted an assist, three shots on goal, two blocked shots and two PIM in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Golden Knights.
The Swedish blueliner had the secondary helper on Alex Chiasson's first-period goal. It took Klefbom only two games to get back on the scoresheet after his return from a shoulder injury. In 61 outings this year, he has 34 points, 176 blocks, 155 shots and 24 PIM.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Returns in usual role
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Klefbom (shoulder) went plus-3 with four hits and two blocked shots in 22:11 during Saturday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Klefbom missed nine games after a minor shoulder injury. The Swede should continue to see a lot of playing time as a key member of the Oilers' top four. He has 33 points, 174 blocks and 152 shots in 60 contests this year.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Scheduled to rejoin action Saturday
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Klefbom (shoulder) will retake the ice during Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets barring a setback in morning skate, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports.
Klefbom's return will add some major punch on the back end for the Oilers. Through 59 contests, Klefbom has compiled five goals and 28 assists while flinging 151 shots on net and averaging a career-high 3:46 of power-play ice time. He should immediately assume a key role along the blue line for an Edmonton squad jostling for playoff positioning as the NHL regular season heads down the final stretch.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Could return on road trip
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Klefbom (shoulder) may return to the lineup during the team's three-game road trip which ends Thursday versus the Blackhawks, Jack Michaels of the Oilers Radio Network reports.
The Oilers play Monday and Tuesday, and if Klefbom does return, it'll likely be Thursday. The Swedish blueliner has missed the past six games, and he'll immediately return to the top pairing once he's ready. Klefbom has averaged 25:36 per game this year, recording 33 points -- 18 on the power play -- and 172 blocked shots over 59 games.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Will miss 2-3 weeks
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Klefbom is expected to be sidelined for 2-to-3 weeks with a shoulder injury.
This is a huge blow to the Oilers and fantasy owners alike, as Klefbom has been a machine for Edmonton this season, having averaged 25:36 of ice time per contest while racking up 33 points, 151 shots on goal and 172 blocked shots in 59 games. Caleb Jones will likely be tasked with taking on a larger role while Klefbom, who will undoubtedly be placed on injured reserve, is sidelined.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Offers power-play helper
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Klefbom registered a power-play assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win over the Hurricanes.
The Swede also skated 30:57 in the game, the third time he's crossed the half-hour mark for ice time. Klefbom is up to 33 points (18 on the power play), 172 blocks, 151 shots and a minus-20 rating in 59 appearances this year.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Notches two power-play assists
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Klefbom collected a pair of power-play helpers in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Predators.
The Swede had the secondary helper on both Alex Chiasson's second-period tally and the eventual game-winner by Leon Draisaitl in the third. Klefbom added five shots on goal and five blocked shots. The 26-year-old is up to 32 points (17 on the power play), 144 shots and 162 blocks through 55 games.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Pair of helpers in blowout
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Klefbom dished two assists, blocked two shots, fired two shots on goal and went plus-2 in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Flames.
The 26-year-old reached the 30-point mark with his two-assist effort Saturday. Klefbom has five goals, 25 helpers, 153 blocks and 133 shots. Fifteen of the Swede's points have come with a man advantage this season -- he's a valuable blueliner in fantasy.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Picks up assist Tuesday
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Klefbom recorded an assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Predators.
Klefbom earned the secondary helper on Josh Archibald's second-period tally. With the assist, the Swedish blueliner matched his 28-point output from last season in 13 fewer games (61 last year, 48 in 2019-20). Klefbom has added 143 blocked shots, 126 shots on net and 15 power-play points, although his minus-15 rating is a little concerning to fantasy owners.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Dishes helper in comeback win
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Klefbom posted an assist and a plus-3 rating in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Canadiens.
Klefbom set up Alex Chiasson for the game-winning goal at 9:40 of the third period. The Swedish defenseman is up to 27 points (five goals, 22 assists), which is just one shy of his production from last season. He's added 142 blocked shots, 121 shots on goal and 15 power-play points.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Opens scoring in crazy win
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Klefbom netted a goal on four shots and blocked three shots in Monday's 6-4 win over the Maple Leafs.
Klefbom's fifth goal of the year came in the first period. The Swede has 26 points, 141 blocked shots and 120 shots on goal through 45 games this year. He's just two points away from matching his output from 61 contests in 2018-19, and he should come close to his career-high 38 from 2016-17 if he remains healthy.
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Oilers' Oscar Klefbom: Will play Thursday
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Klefbom (undisclosed) will play Thursday against the Sabres, NHL.com's Heather Engel reports.
Klefbom left Tuesday's game against the Rangers in the third period with an undisclosed issue, but whatever forced him from that contest clearly wasn't overly serious. The 26-year-old Swede will slot into his usual role skating on the Oilers' top pairing and first power-play unit against Buffalo.
