Oscar Klefbom has been away from the Edmonton Oilers for a few years, but why has the defenseman just now announced his retirement?
Oscar Klefbom has been away from the Edmonton Oilers for a few years, but why has the defenseman just now announced his retirement?
EDMONTON -- The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was one of the best for the Edmonton Oilers.
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They selected two players in the first round of that draft. First overall they chose Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and 19th overall they picked defenseman Oscar Klefbom. While Nugent-Hopkins has played with the team since his draft year, Klefbom's hockey career has been significantly different.
The last time he played hockey was in the 2019-20 play-in round. During this "Covid year" Klefbom skated in four games, registered two points, and averaged 24:13 of ice time.
Earlier today, several interviews with Swedish publications (Wermlands-Tidningen & Varmslands Folkblad) reveal that the defenseman is officially done playing hockey.
When reflecting on his career Klefbom said, "I am very happy with my career. I'm just grateful that I got the chance to play as many games as I did, even though it was with an injury."
For Klefbom, he was left with a tough choice, "on one hand, I would be risking not being able to lift my children and enjoy life after hockey. On the other hand, I almost want to risk everything, because being on the ice is the most fun I know."
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He then answered the question on everyone's mind, why did he wait till now to announce his retirement? Klefbom explained, "I told the Oilers that I wanted to lay very low with what was going to happen and what the situation is."
"From my side, it was also because it was so difficult to talk about. I wasn't quite ready to say I was done playing hockey. But now I can finally say it's over."
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