Edmonton Oilers defenceman Oscar Klefbom has undergone successful shoulder surgery in hopes of helping an arthritic shoulder.

The surgery was performed at the Cleveland Clinic by specialist Dr. Anthony Miniaci, Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported.

So what’s next for Klefbom? Well, the rehab process will begin and as Spector noted, Klefbom could be ready for next October.

Edmonton hasn’t exactly missed Klefbom a lot this year as Darnell Nurse stepped up in an expanded role as the team’s No. 1 defenceman and hasn’t looked out of place doing so. This could bode well for the Oilers allowing Klefbom to return in a second pairing role. If Edmonton gets him through the expansion draft as the Oilers could get him in a better position to succeed.

Most importantly, however, is that there’s hope this surgery will provide Klefbom with a better quality of life beyond the rink.

“It comes to a point where you’re not really feeling right in your private life,” Klefbom said in January. “It’s one thing to be on the ice and take some pain medication and anti-inflamms and play through it, but when it comes to a point where you can’t really sleep and put your clothes on properly… your body says ‘no, you should not be doing this anymore.’

“It’s tough to tell the guys and management that I need to do something, but I love hockey and I want to get back playing and be fair to myself and the organization.”