Only just a few minutes ago Ryan Rishaug of TSN reported that the Oilers were closing in on a deal with Defenseman Oscar Klefbom.
Oilers and Klefbom have agreed to terms on a 7 year Contract extension. Deal to be finalized in the next 24 to 48 hours.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) September 19, 2015AAV will be just north of 4 million. Details to come.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) September 19, 2015The deal is reportedly going to be for 7 years and worth a little more than 4 million dollars per season. (4.167 according to Craig Custance)
Oscar Klefbom has not yet played a full NHL season, though he has appeared in 77 games with the Oilers. He was drafted 19th Overall in the 2011 Entry Draft by the Oilers. He stayed in Europe for 2 seasons post-draft. After losing almost an entire season due to injury in Sweden he came to North America in 2013-2014 and played his first season almost entirely with the OKC Barons of the AHL.
Klefbom rose through the depth chart of the Oilers’ farm team very quickly, going from the 3rd pair to the top in less than a season. In his second AHL season he added offense to the tune of 8 points in 9 games before being promoted to the Oilers fulltime.
The proposed 7 year extension would secure his services from the age of 23 all the way to 30 with the Oilers. Despite his lack of NHL experience he has firmly entrenched himself in Edmonton’s top 4 and with his elite skating and developing puck skills he has the chance to be a legitimate top pairing player.
Klefbom finished 1st on Edmonton’s defense in Points per 60 minutes 5v5, and was 2nd in Shots per 60 minutes and in Corsi For percentage. He possesses all the attributes you want in an NHL defender and while a 7 year deal is clearly a risk, the Oilers need to do their best to lock assets up long term knowing in just a few years the attention will be focused purely on a McDavid extension.
It appears as though the organization believes Oscar Klefbom is going to be part of the long-term solution to their problem on the back end. It’s a belief I happen to share.
UPDATE
As per Gene Principe, the deal is note close, the deal is in fact done.
Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy