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"It’s over” - Ex-Oiler Oscar Klefbom reveals heartbreaking reason behind NHL retirement
Former Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom has officially retired due to a persistent shoulder injury. Klefbom, 31, hasn’t played since August 2020, when the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs. The shoulder injury that kept him off the ice has ended his career.
Drafted 19th overall by the Oilers in the 2011 Entry Draft, he played seven seasons for the team. Oilers were the only NHL team he played for from 2013 to 2020. He played all 82 games with the Oilers in 2016–17, in which he scored 38 points (12 goals and 26 assists).
“Now it’s over,” Klefbom told Nya Wermlands Tidningen. "It is what it is. As a sport, I wasn’t quite finished with hockey. But now it’s over."
Klefbom added that he wasn’t ready to leave hockey; the injury forced him to stop. He also shared that he played through injuries during his last five years in the NHL.
“It was a choice I made. I talked to Edmonton about wanting to keep a very low profile about what would happen and how the situation was," Klefbom added. "They were completely fine with that. From my side, it was also because I found it so hard to talk about it.”
Oscar Klefbom still wants to continue playing hockey
The spirit in Oscar Klefbom and his love for hockey are not over, as he says:
“I am 31 years old and itching to get back. I am fresh enough that I want to go out and hit Joel Eriksson Ek down in the corner."
But Oscar Klefbom knows his prosthetic shoulder, though pain-free, is too weak for pro hockey. After multiple surgeries, he struggles with the temptation to return but prioritizes life after hockey, especially being able to lift his children, despite missing the thrill of playing, particularly in Edmonton.
Klefbom played 378 NHL games, registering 156 points (34 goals, 122 assists) and 74 penalty minutes. He won a World Junior Championship gold medal in 2012 with Sweden. Though his playing days are over, Klefbom still hopes to stay involved in hockey in the future.
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