EDMONTON — The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was one of the best for the Edmonton Oilers.
They selected two players in the first round of that draft. First overall they chose Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and 19th overall they picked defenseman Oscar Klefbom. While Nugent-Hopkins has played with the team since his draft year, Klefbom’s hockey career has been significantly different.
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The last time he played hockey was in the 2019-20 play-in round. During this “Covid year” Klefbom skated in four games, registered two points, and averaged 24:13 of ice time.
Earlier today, several interviews with Swedish publications (Wermlands-Tidningen & Varmslands Folkblad) reveal that the defenseman is officially done playing hockey.
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When reflecting on his career Klefbom said, “I am very happy with my career. I’m just grateful that I got the chance to play as many games as I did, even though it was with an injury.”
For Klefbom, he was left with a tough choice, “on one hand, I would be risking not being able to lift my children and enjoy life after hockey. On the other hand, I almost want to risk everything, because being on the ice is the most fun I know.”
He then answered the question on everyone’s mind, why did he wait till now to announce his retirement? Klefbom explained, “I told the Oilers that I wanted to lay very low with what was going to happen and what the situation is.”
“From my side, it was also because it was so difficult to talk about. I wasn’t quite ready to say I was done playing hockey. But now I can finally say it’s over.”
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