Oilers’ blueliner Klefbom shoulders part of blame
D-man has struggled for much of season but vows to ‘come back for some revenge’
Edmonton Oilers defenceman Oscar Klefbom said the shoulder that needed a healthy dose of anti-inflammatory drugs just before Christmas has improved because he’s able to work the corners and hammer pucks better than he had been, but his game is still hurting.
Three goals, 17 points, minus-12 in 61 games.
Last season: 12 goals, 38 points, plus-7.
He struggled against the New York Rangers Saturday, like most of his teammates, against a team that’s only ahead of Buffalo, Arizona, Vancouver and Ottawa. It’s been a lost season for the Oilers, and also for Klefbom.
Their first-pairing defenceman last year played all 82 games, and expertly. He hasn’t been right from early on, in large part because of his shoulder concern but also because he and playing partner Adam Larsson never really got in sync.
“My shoulder is fine. It’s going to get me through to the end of the year,” said Klefbom. “Battling-wise and shooting-wise, it’s so much better.”
The Oilers aren’t going to shut him down with the playoffs out of sight.
And he said he won’t need any medical procedures this summer.
“No, but we’ve talked about the world championship and my priority is the Edmonton Oilers,” said Klefbom, who would have played for Sweden with the tournament in Denmark. “I need a good summer of rehab.”
So if the Swedes come calling, he’ll say no.
For now, he has to play better. “Obviously, nobody’s happy where we are in the standings, especially me. I want to come back for some revenge,” said Klefbom, who’s played 250 NHL games.
Last season was Klefbom’s best. But he took a large step back this year. Now the question is: where does Klefbom, who turns 25 in July, fit? First pairing or second? Maybe in the three-four hole. “It’s not always going to be a nice ride. There’s always going to be bumps on the road,” he said. “A lot of players had their best seasons last year, including me. We had a hell of a season as a team.”
The Klefbom-Larsson pairing seemed ideal last year, and maybe it still is as a shutdown tag-team. Maybe Darnell Nurse is in the first pairing now, and they’re looking for an offensive D -partner for him.
“You have to play with a lot of different guys. You have to adapt your game with whatever partner you are with,” said Klefbom. “But last year Adam and I were very consistent, we played lots of minutes every single game. That helps the chemistry.”
BEAR NECESSITIES
Rookie Ethan Bear played 14:42 in his first NHL game against Nashville, and 16:16 against the Rangers. He got a taste of the power play Saturday, even if it was only for 41 seconds.
Like any farm call-up, Bear, who had only played 34 American Hockey League games, is diving into the deep end defensively. His head’s on a continual swivel, trying to pick up players sneaking into the play or quick passes through the slot.
But the Oilers mainly want to see what the right-shot defenceman can do with the puck. He makes a crisp pass, and they need help getting the puck out of their end and onto Connor McDavid’s or Leon Draisaitl’s stick.
“The nerves are a little less now,” said Bear, 20. “There’s a lot of moving parts out there (to playing NHL defence). I’m trying to keep my eyes on the puck and know where I am every time. I’ve got to be communicating,” he said.
Oscar Klefbom had time with Bear against the Rangers.
“He’s a very mobile, good skater. I like playing with him,” said Klefbom. “Obviously, it takes time to know what the NHL game’s all about. I remember when I came into the league and I tried to build some confidence with the puck. (Andrew) Ference was a good mentor for me. I talked to him on and off the ice about what I could do differently.”
GOOD GOAL
Would it hurt if the Oilers set a goal, let’s say, 80 points, with 17 games left, rather than go through the same old clichés of trying to win every game or playing one game at a time?
GO 11-6 AND GET TO 80
“I think having a goal in mind is a good thing. If you’re just showing up and saying it’s just another game, that can lead to lacklustre starts,” said Drake Caggiula.
“If we create a goal within our group and try to reach it, it’s not playoffs but you’re playing for something instead of just showing up at the rink.”
THIS ’N THAT:
Milan Lucic has had 54 shots between his last goal on Dec. 23 and now ... Ference is going into the Portland Winterhawks Hall of Fame with Marian Hossa and Brenden Morrow on March 10 … Backup goalie Al Montoya has played six Oilers games. Nothing concrete, but he has to play at least 30 minutes in seven games to have the fifth-round conditional draft pick they gave the Habs become a fourth-round pick this June. In Buffalo on Jan. 23, Montoya only played 28:21. He’s been over 30 minutes in the other five games.