Oscar Klefbom was in the house Tuesday night for the first time since his career ended because of a shoulder that kept him in pain for years.
“Last night was actually the first game I’ve watched since I quit playing … not just the Oilers, any game, not even in my hometown team,” in Karlstad, Sweden, said the former Edmonton defenceman Klefbom, 31, whose last NHL game was in the pandemic bubble on Aug. 7, 2020 when they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoff qualification round and he had two assists in four games.
“Nothing, no games. I tried to but I’m still too emotionally involved. I’m only 31 but … I want to see myself on the ice, not from above or on TV,” said Klefbom, who played 378 Oilers games and was a workhorse, the excellent blue-line partner of Swedish buddy Adam Larsson for years here, all the while playing hurt with a shoulder that wouldn’t co-operate.
Eventually the shoulder was so bad, he needed major repair work.
It KO’d his playing career.
He was asked if he’d like to come to the Oilers playoff ride last spring, but declined. “They asked if I could be here for Game 4 of the finals against Florida. But we were having a baptism for our son back home,” he said.
Klefbom reportedly had arthritic issues in the shoulder, which derailed his seven-year Oilers career. “I had the shoulder surgery and they cut into the small muscles and they put the titanium in there, in the socket,” said Klefbom, who has played golf and he loves to fish, but no hockey.
“It’s really weak. I’ve lost a lot of muscle mass. I played with pain for so many years. Every time I talked to you guys I thought ‘You guys should know what’s really going on.’ I was compensating (to not take major hits to the shoulder). I got used to the pain and I dealt with it. Now, I sleep fine.”
But no hockey. His career ended abruptly, like Craig Simpson’s. Simpson’s NHL career ended at 27 with a painful back issue, partially the result of being cross-checked so many times in the back as he stood in front of the net.
“I’m happy with my life situation but it’s frustrating when you still want to be on the ice, but you get another perspective in life when your son comes and you focus on everything else but hockey,” said Klefbom, whose 15-month-old boy’s name is Louie.
After Louie DeBrusk, the ex NHLer and Oiler TV commentator?
“No, Loui Eriksson,” laughed Klefbom of the retired Swedish winger.
When Ken Holland was the Oilers GM he talked often about Klefbom, and how the door was wide open if he wanted to work for the team in Europe, likely as a scout, but maybe in player development. Klefbom does want to do that, but not yet.
“I just ran into Kass (Zack Kassian) in the rink and that was strange, seeing him here, now, as a scout,” said Klefbom, who will be welcoming a second son in July. “I’m 100 per cent sure I’ll be involved in hockey at some time but, as of now, it’s still hard to see all my friends and former colleagues still playing. Give it a couple more years and I’ll see my way into the game, in development or whatever.”
Or maybe into the broadcast booth? He was always a great talker.
“Yeah, maybe I would be the Swedish Gene Principe,” joked Klefbom.
Maybe his first foray into hockey post-playing will be in Farjestads. “I came up in hockey in my hometown where Farjestads plays. When I was 16 and I started playing pro there, I played with the guy now the GM of the (SHL) team and he’s asked if I want to be involved as a D (coach) or helping with the junior team,” said Klefbom. “I don’t see myself even behind a bench, yelling at the players.”
Klefbom said he’ll be staying here for awhile, certainly for Thursday’s game with Montreal Canadiens, maybe Saturday when Dallas is in town, too. He’ll be staying at Nugent-Hopkins’ house, starting Thursday.
“I walked into the dressing room today, up the stairs (from the parking garage) with Nuge and it’s fun to be around the guys, in his place, lots of good memories. I felt at home,” he said.
“But it is a little sad (not being on the ice).”
He’s barely been on the ice, at all.
“I was out for the first time last week, playing a charity game against 13-year-old boys. It was really fun. I miss the game so much,” said Klefbom, whose No. 77 hasn’t been given out to any other Oilers player.
“I was Oscar Klefbom the hockey player. Now I’m a stay-at-home dad. It takes time to adjust and accept the way it is,” he said.
FRIENDLY FIRE
Corey Perry had a January fight with new Oilers forward Trent Frederic, who will be at the rink Thursday morning after the Bruins trade. No hard feelings, though. Perry said he talked to Frederic after the deal to welcome him to the club.
“I told him I’m glad to have him on our side so he’s not punching me in the head. I get to watch him punching somebody else now,” said Perry.
“Corey’s been in a lot of fights, in a lot of scrums with guys who’ve become his teammates,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch, referencing Mattias Ekholm dropping the mitts with Perry in an exhibition game. “I’ve been in a situation in the past where guys would come to a new team (after fighting) and they would hold a grudge. When you come into the room and you see Corey, though … I don’t think anybody holds a grudge against him.”
Perry’s certainly on board with the trade, whenever Frederic plays after injuring his right ankle Feb. 25 after a hit by Toronto’s Jake McCabe. “We’ll be happy to have him when he’s ready. He’s going to fit into this group.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch’s looking forward to seeing Frederic, too, even if his recovery is still a week or so away. “He adds some sandpaper to our team,” he said.
TAKING SOME TIME OFF
Ekholm wasn’t on the ice for practice Wednesday after missing a chunk of time in the third period against Anaheim and Knoblauch says they are going to sit Evan Bouchard’s partner for a bit. He’s been sick for quite some time, fighting the flu, his voice hoarse in many interviews.
“Sometimes when a player’s not playing his best, when he’s trying to play through it, it’s better to take time off and find their game again,” said Knoblauch.
TRYING TO GET OUT OF JAIL
Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch for the eighth time Tuesday when the Ducks were here but with winger Matthew Savoie’s return to Bakersfield after three games with the team, Skinner will play against the Canadiens Thursday. The Oilers are down to 12 forwards. Skinner was skating on a line with Perry and Kasperi Kapanen (at centre) at practice Wednesday but remains far down the depth chart on LW, especially with the Tuesday addition of Frederic.
Skinner, who has played 1,059 regular-season games but never a single playoff game, has that no-trade clause, as we all know. The Oilers may have sounded him out if he wants to waive the no-trade on his $3 million AAV contract before Friday’s trade deadline to maybe go to a team where he’ll play every night — at least a team in the picture for a wild-card playoff spot. While Columbus was floated as a possibility because of a connection with current Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell, who had the forward in Carolina, it’s likely a no there. They did try for Gus Nyqvist but he went from Nashville to Minnesota.
This ‘n that: Winger Max Jones, acquired from Boston Tuesday as part of the Frederic deal as a fourth-line NHL depth player, has moved from the Bruins farm team in Providence to Bakersfield. But he’s in the process of travelling to the West coast and didn’t play Wednesday for the Condors against Colorado Eagles. He’ll be there for Saturday’s game against San Jose. Jones has another year on his contract at $1 million AAV … The Oilers now have just three picks in the June draft after moving their second (Philip Broberg compensation from St. Louis) to Boston to get Frederic. Their first pick will be a third-rounder, in the 85-90 range depending on where Blues finish. That’s the Dylan Holloway compensation for the unmatched offer sheet…Ex Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi, playing on Florida’s farm team in Charlotte on an AHL deal, has now signed a two-way NHL contract with the Panthers but he has to go on waivers first to see if he clears…Former Oil Kings defenceman Kaiden Guhle is out for the Habs’ season with a leg laceration…The red-hot Canadiens, battling for a wild-card spot in the East, just signed UFA centre Jake Evans, on everybody’s trade deadline board, to a four-year deal for a $2.85m AAV.