DELAYED KLEFBOM
By Lowetide
12 years ago
Edmonton Oilers badly need good defenseman and help is on the way. Oscar Klefbom is rumored to be close to an NHL entry level deal, ensuring the club’s best long term prospect will be an Oiler. The question is when?
FIGURING THINGS OUT
When it comes to European prospects, sometimes you get the best information from "outside" sources. Often a blog or twitter account will deliver facts miles before the electronic media picks up on it. Call it another advantage from the connection Al Gore invented when he was a teenager.
Martin Lundén runs the blog Swedish Oil and often delivers nuggets on the Oilers early. Recently, he passed along information on Klefbom that helped piece together the signing story and offered a couple of initeresting quotes for our reading pleasure.
Lunden quotes friend Johan Eriksson (who works for a newspaper in Karlstad) on two things I want to look closely at for this blog.
- Klefbom on his conversation with GM Steve Tambellini- I explained to him (Tambellini) that I really enjoy working here and what the situation looks like in Färjestad, when Frögren, Sevc and Berglund disappears, it favours me. I’m going up a few notches.
The portion about three veterans leaving is the major item here. This is important, because along with the signing comes word that Klefbom will stay another year in the SEL. So, these three characters listed, did they play a lot for Farjestad and push our man down the depth chart?
FARJESTAD BLUE TIME ON ICE 11-12
NAME | GP | G | A | PTS | TOI/G |
MARTIN SEVC (LEAVING) | 50 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 22:53 |
SANNY LINDSTROM | 46 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 19:33 |
KRISTOFER BERGLUND (LEAVING) | 51 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 18:32 |
JONAS BRODIN | 49 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 17:27 |
JONAS FROGREN (LEAVING) | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16:27 |
ANTON GRUNDEL | 43 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15:29 |
MAGNUS NYGREN | 50 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 14:47 |
OSCAR KLEFBOM | 33 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13:43 |
JOHAN LARSSON | 31 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12:17 |
As Klefbom mentioned (and is highlighted by my sophisticated color table) young Klefbom should indeed move up the pecking order. Now, we should mention that the three exits could be followed by additions, but Klefbom and fellow junior Jonas Brodin should be able to grab some playing time in 12-13.
It’s also interesting to see where the offense comes from, looks like a lot of it is leaving this summer, and that could benefit Klefbom’s boxcar numbers.
ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BRIEFCASE?
More Klefbom and his conversation with Mr. Tambellini: – I was a little nervous at first (when meeting up with Tambellini), a bit afraid that he would only put up a plan for my future should look like. But he asked rather a lot of questions about how the season has been, how it looks in Färjestad next year and how I felt about myself, the whole situation, both personally and in terms of hockey. (Signing a contract with the Oilers) is a major thing. NHL has always been the biggest dream for me and the fact they want to sign to a contract now is a proof that they are satisfied with me.
I wanted to post that quote because last year after the draft there were a lot of comments suggesting there was some worry about his long term plans. Seems to be pretty excited about the opportunity.
My thanks to Mr. Lundén for passing along this information and I’m hopeful he will continue his fine work. If you don’t have his site bookmarked, its probably a wise thing to do if getting information early is important to you.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
The big question now has to do with that extra year in Sweden. I think it’s always best to have these young men get to North America as quickly as possible, but in the case of Klefbom it would appear the opportunity with Farjestad in 12-13 involves a big step up in playing time and responsibility.
It’s also interesting to read about how this young man views the organization and their efforts to sound him out about his future. Just guessing, but I bet that extra year in Sweden means a lot to Oscar Klefbom. I expect it will benefit the Oilers long term by listening to the player and coming up with an agreeable solution.
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