IS KLEFBOM OILERS’ OFFENSIVE D-MAN?
Do the Edmonton Oilers really need to bring in another defenceman to run their power play and move the puck?
Should they pursue the likes of Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues or would they be better served letting Oscar Klefbom develop into the role?
The big question is the true extent of Klefbom’s potential? OK, he’s not the preferred right-shot defenceman most seem to want for the Oilers because they’re loaded with lefties — Andrej Sekera, Kris Russell, Brandon Davidson and Darnell Nurse. But do they still need to move one of their $6-million forwards, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Jordan Eberle, to get an offensive D-man, if Klefbom can score 40-45 points a season?
Maybe, but it’s worth mulling over right now.
Klefbom isn’t yet elite, but he has the potential to become a true toppairing defenceman.
“I think Oscar’s farther ahead than he was last year,” said Oilers coach Todd McLellan. “But he’s a hard player for the coaches to assess because we were a new staff coming in, and when we got our heads above water, Klef was out of the lineup.
“I concur that he can be a 40-point player. He has the vision and the shot and the legs to put himself in those offensive situations. It’s just experience for him now.
“Coming back from his injury, the tendency is to play conservatively, trying not to make mistakes, but now he’s doing a better job of that and the offence is coming.”
Klefbom, who has played more minutes than any other Oilers defenceman and has been used at even-strength, short-handed, and on the power play — counted his 10th goal of the year on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth on Thursday. Only Brent Burns (25), Shea Weber (13), Shattenkirk, Justin Faulk and Cam Fowler (11) have more goals from the blue-line.
Klefbom, who has played 25 or more minutes in seven of his last 14 games, could easily score 15 goals with 24 games left. He’s got 24 points. Maybe he gets to 40.
What’s an offensive defenceman in today’s game, anyway?
Take away the outliers — Burns, who’s a lock for the Norris this year and has a shot at the Hart (61 points), and two-time Norris winner Erik Karlsson (47 points) — is 40-45 points a season a legitimate offensive defenceman?
“Yeah, I’d say so,” said Klefbom, who averages just short of 22 minutes a game. “Burns is so extreme. Obviously, he’s unbelievable. But I almost see him as a forward right now. He’s up on the rush all the time.
“I don’t know if he’s the best guy in the league playing defensively.”
Klefbom sees himself “as a twoway player who can help offensively and also have a sound defensive game.”
“Hopefully, I can develop my game to put up more points,” he said. “I do see 40-45 points as an offensive D. I told myself that I would shoot more this season and I am.”
Klefbom has taken 146 shots, third most on the Oilers behind forwards Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. For defencemen, he’s far back of Burns (231) but he’s had more than the likes of Weber (136), Karlsson (135) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (138).
“Shooting more is paying off,” Klefbom said. “Like the other night. I had a shot that (Patrick) Maroon put in (on the rebound). Easy points for me.”
Klefbom’s role models on defence aren’t Burns or Karlsson.
“Duncan Keith is a good guy to watch. I feel I can play a lot of minutes, I’m in good shape … Keith isn’t in better shape, but he knows where to go and he doesn’t expend energy when he doesn’t have. It’s fun watching him. He’s smart and effective.”
Klefbom struggled through the first six weeks, with and without the puck. He was rusty, restless and trying to do way too much as he came back from missing 52 games last season with an ankle infection. But he’s their workhorse now, even more than Sekera.
He even managed to sit out his first penalty of the season against Arizona, a holding call.
“I’m happy it wasn’t a puck out (into the seats). It was a real penalty. Just a matter of time,” he said.
“Obviously, I wanted to keep the zero.”
Does he want to be in the Lady Byng conversation? The only defenceman who’s done it in recent memory was Brian Campbell in 2012. Nick Lidstrom was runnerup five times, though.
“Is that a positive or not? I don’t know,” said Klefbom.
“But Lidstrom was a pretty good example of a defenceman always in good position and using his legs (and not reaching out or hooking somebody for a penalty). Obviously at this time of year, when power plays are so important, every penalty you take is an opportunity for a team to score … so I’m glad I’m staying away from the box.”