Former Edmonton Oilers top defenseman forced to retire due to injuries
Oscar Klefbom, a long-time Edmonton Oiler, has finally opened up about his mysterious four-year absence from the NHL.
Klefbom, who was last seen with the team in August 2020, disappeared without explanation, leaving fans puzzled. He recently shared that a severe injury forced him to step away from hockey and move back to his home country, Sweden.
The 31-year-old says that the shoulder never really got better. It was tightened up to prevent it from popping out again, which ultimately led to osteoarthritis.
More blows followed, and Klefbom played on painkillers while his body took a beating. His stomach gave up the ghost after a multi-year course of anti-inflammatories and injections."
In 2020, Klefbom underwent surgery to try and resolve the shoulder problem, hoping to return for the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, the surgery didn't work, and he was unable to play again.
Klefbom spent seven seasons with the Oilers, but only stayed healthy for one full season in 2016-17. That year, he played all 82 games, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists, and finishing with a +7 rating. He also contributed five points in the playoffs.
The Swedish defenseman admitted that he hasn't watched an Oilers game since 2020. The mental toll of his injuries has been so great that watching hockey would only add to his pain. However, Klefbom expressed hope that he might return to the sport one day, possibly in a coaching role.
Source: Daily FaceoffFormer NHL defenseman Oskar Klefbom announces retirement
Source: HockeyDBOscar Klefbom Stats
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8 AOUT | 74 ANSWERS Former Edmonton Oilers top defenseman forced to retire due to injuries Have you ever watched Oscar Klefbom play? | ||
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| No | 24 | 32.4 % |
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