At 6'2 and 204 lbs Oscar has becomes the 'Oilers' next great hope. Oscar Klefbom brings a good size
presence in the form of a player who has game already. After years of watching
Jordon Eberle, Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and last year
Nail Yakupov, dominate the attention at Oilers Development Camp, Klefbom and
fellow blueliner Darnell Nurse were the ones who were being watched closely
this camp.
Klefbom had many eyes upon him last year and before his
injury was actually scheduled to be at Oilers training camp in September 2012.
As fate goes, he was injured and was not able to attend or even play the rest
of the year. This year Nurse was all the ‘craze’ for MacT and the player he
obviously was coveting if Monahan was gone at their drafting position. Center
and defence is what MacT has preached and so it should be.
This years camp had maybe 75% of the total amount of fans
visiting compared to 90-100% capacity at the previous 3 camps held in Edmonton
and/or Sherwood Park. It’s a given without the excitement of a #1 OV draft
selection, things are not as pretty as they are becoming solid. I have given
MacT somewhat of a hard time in regards to what he has done, but selecting
Nurse will really stabilize the back end of the Oilers defence for years to
come.
This years camp was very little about the forwards (all the
young prospects are already playing for the Oilers) and more about defence.
With Musil. Gernat, Klefbom, Nurse and Simpson you have a pretty good group of
prospects on defence to watch. You can always find ways to pick apart a defence
corps in comparison to forwards but this group is looking good for the future.
Notice the size of the Oilers D-men coming down the pipe?
They are big guys (maybe not all filled out yet, but will over time) but none
stands out as ready as Oscar Klefbom. “The Bom” as I like to call him, stood
hands above everyone else at this camp and he should. He has played against men
for awhile, is big, solid muscle, good hockey IQ, a leader and solid character
guy as mentioned by those closer to him. Not to mention this is his second camp and the 2nd
time around is always easier. Just ask Jordon Eberle!
Sure Oscar made a few
mistakes here and there but the drills are made to expose area’s on players to
show them what they will need to work on. Be it positioning, stick work,
skating agility etc..every player has work too do. I have followed these camps
since 2007 and each year even the #1 OV selections struggled on different
drills or at different points. This development camp is not about evaluation
but about development.
Having said all that, Oscar Klefbom IMO has arrived to the
point of readiness. I know many fans say ‘he needs time in the AHL’! How can
you make that call, when you have not seen him play against actual NHL players
and in game situations. For me, Oscar is ready for that 3rd pairing
role already in Edmonton but he should have to earn it. If other players are
stronger back there, send him to develop in the AHL awhile but let’s not judge
him to quickly. Maybe Oil Country is tired of promises only to see players fall
short or not used correctly. I like what MacT is doing by loading up on depth
on defence. Klefbom will have his hands full this coming 2103-2014 NHL season
competing for a position but I suspect he will be the player who walks out of
the battle w=victorious because he is ‘just that good’. I was OK with Oscar and
where we selected him but have become even more impressed with what we may have
in the future. No pressure on the young guy, let’s just give him a chance
before we judge where he should play is all I say.
As far as Darnell Nurse? He showed some promising size,
learned some new skills to apply at the Jr level for practice and let’s hope he
shows good arrows this year in the OHL.
NEXT POST: What Possibilities are left for the Oilers?
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