HOW SWEDE IT IS: OILERS GET KLEFBOM 19TH
Robin Brownlee
June 24 2011 10:40PM
ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- The Edmonton Oilers growing Swedish contingent swelled by another player Friday with the selection of defenseman Oscar Klefbom 19th overall in the first round.
With prospects like Jamie Oleksiak and Mark McNeill snapped up in the previous handful of picks by Dallas and Chicago, the Oilers opted for the six-foot-three, 205-pound blueliner from Farjestad.
Klefbom, who was ranked No. 6 among European skaters by CSS, is no consolation prize, though, as chief scout Stu MacGregor and his staff had their sights on him coming into the draft.
"A big, great skating defenseman," MacGregor said. "A solid, two-way guy who moves the puck intelligently and competes really hard.
"We were really pleased he was there (with the 19th pick). We wanted to get a defenseman . . . especially one with size who can move."
WILL FEEL AT HOME
Klefbom, who doesn't turn 18 until July 20, joins countrymen Linus Omark, Magnus Paajarvi and Anton Lander as part of Edmonton's growing organizational stable of Swedes.
That won't hurt an always trying transition when it eventually comes time for Klefbom to make the jump to North America.
"Of course, it's a lot easier if there's already Swedes over there, so that feels really good," Klefbom said. "Anton Lander is a great guy. I've talked to him many times."
There was a lot of talk going into the first round GM Steve Tambellini would try to move up to get a second high pick, and that the 19th pick would be a bargaining chip in that attempt, but no deal materialized.
"Steve was very busy. He's been very busy all week with a lot of different opportunities," MacGregor said.
"We tried on a number of occasions. We were trying to make a deal there and then Toronto made a deal and that kind of took us out of a deal with Anaheim. He was working the phones. He was trying to get things done."
WHAT ABOUT SMYTH?
The Ryan Smyth deal with Los Angeles for Gilbert Brule is done. Yes, it is. No, it's not. Take your pick.
Either way, there's still no confirmation from the Oilers, despite plenty of buzz the deal is done, that Smyth is poised for an encore in Edmonton. Perhaps they'll get around to making it official Saturday.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
They'd better make it official soon. My ticker can't take it.
Do you think Edm would have taken Mark McNeill if he was available before Klefbom?
First the Jets are officially the team in the Peg, and then Smytty back in Etown?? It seems as though I just got sucked into a time warp!
Immediately stick the C on 94's chest so that the young guns can have a REAL captain to lead them.
Get rid of Souray and Tambellini is looking good heading into free agency. (I know, Mike Milbury is no longer a GM so the chances are slim)
Smyth's agent reports that he's officially waived his clause to come here. At this point, I can't see how LA could have any leverage in this deal at all. Even if there is really some kind of dispute over the pick, I can't see how LA is in any position to nitpick about it. What . . . they're really prepared to say to Smytty "Sorry, but your deal didn't work out. Best you lace up for practice now. Can't see it. Smytty will be here.
Are you sure you got a pic of the right guy? My sources have Klefbom as a LH shot.
Will be interesting to see how beneficial haveing countrymen around for the swedish players helps in the developement.
Any idea who the Oil were targeting with Anaheim's #22 pick?
I'm only guessing, but I'd think the Oilers were looking to trade down from 19. They probably figured Klefbom would still be there at 22 (or they had a backup they figured was just as good) and were looking to get an extra pick or prospect out of Anaheim who was looking to move up.
I assume that they aren't announcing the Smyth deal because they don't want to take the spotlight away from the new draftees. They deserve their day of glory.
According to all the pictures that show up on Google he also wore 19, not 4.
Who can tell the difference between Swedes anyway?
The scuttlebutt at the moment is that Tambo is having a hard time figuring out if he wants to give up a 4th round pick or 5th. Who knows if that's true, but like Ben Massey said over at C&B, as soon as Lombardi accepted the deal Tambo should have just screamed "KEEP THE CHANGE!".
mr.brownlee in your opinion did the oil get 2 thumbs up today?
@jeanshorts
The picture has been changed. Thank goodness that oversight has been corrected.
That looks like the guy.
I CAN FINALLY SLEEP TONIGHT!!!
You're the best!
Is the difference between a 4th and a 5th about $100,000? That might explain it.
Yes. And they woulda picked Larsson second overall.
There was one problem tho...
I thought the Oil might have tried to get the Dallas pick at 14 which Joe Nieuwendyk was willing to trade down for, and which turned into Jamie Oleksiak who I really wanted :(
Regardless, Klefbom seems pretty solid and I have faith in Stu.
Just checking if were awake? Can get nothing by OilersNation. Sportsnet reports this morning that the trade is done.Brule and 6th this year for Smyth.
Love this pick. It was either him or Morrow who have pretty similar scouting reports but Klefbom appears to have more upside.