Ex-Oilers Defenseman Ends Hockey Career

Caleb Kerney

Apr 17, 2024, 13:24

Caleb Kerney

Apr 17, 2024, 13:24

The former Edmonton Oilers defenseman was 34 years old.

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports - Ex-Oilers Defenseman Ends Hockey Career

EDMONTON -- Hockey is an unforgiving sport.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFBo8wTEMQs[/embed]

Injuries can get in the way of many things - as Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid can bear witness to. Injuries are often what will bring the end of a player's career. Very rarely does a player stop playing because they felt that it was time.

Oscar Klefbom is the most popular Oilers defenseman to "unofficially retire" because of injury. After many surgeries, the discussion turned into a conversation about quality of life after hockey.

Just yesterday, another former Oilers defenseman has decided to stop playing in the NHL - in hopes to maintain a good quality of life outside of hockey.

Chris Wideman wasn't with the Oilers long - he only played five games in the 2018-19 season. In November 2018 he was traded to the Oilers for a conditional sixth round draft pick. Then just over a month later he was packaged with a third round pick to acquire Alexander Petrovic from the Florida Panthers.

The 5-foot-10 defenseman never solidified a constant role with any of the clubs he was with during his 291 game career. Most recently he was with the Montreal Canadiens for the past three seasons.

In 2021-22 he played 64 games, last year he played 46 and this year he has missed the entire season. Back injuries are ultimately what has ended his career before he was ready to hang up the skates.

According to La Presse, he wants to be as involved as possible when his kids play sports - so rehabilitating his injury is his number one focus right now.

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