Former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Oscar Klefbom has announced his retirement from professional hockey.
The 31-year-old blueliner last played during the 2019-20 season. He was ruled out for the 2020-21 campaign due to a shoulder injury and never played again.
Klefbom remained on long-term injured reserve until his seven-year, $29.17 million contract expired in 2023.
“It is as it is. I wasn’t quite done with hockey as a sport. But now it’s over,” Klefbom told Hockey Sverige, according to Google Translate from Swedish. “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 as an injury. I gained a lot of trust, got to take part in a fantastic journey.
"There are really two sides to the coin – because although I am grateful, I would have liked to be here today. On the ice. As a player.”
Oscar Klefbom officially retires at 31 because of serious shoulder issues after he played his last Oiler game at 27. This vastly underrated top 4 D played 378 Oiler games and averaged 25 1/2 mins a night in his last season in 2019-2020. Fantastic partner with Adam Larsson.
— Jim Matheson (@jimmathesonnhl) August 8, 2024
The Karlstad, Sweden, native spent seven seasons in Edmonton after being selected 19th overall in the 2011 draft.
Klefbom had 34 goals and 156 points in 378 career games.
