Oscar Klefbom likely won’t be ready for the start of 2021-22

It looks like Oscar Klefbom won’t be ready to re-join the Oilers in October.

According to Jason Gregor, the odds of Klefbom being ready for the start of the 2021-22 season are low…

Speaking with a few sources, I sense odds of Oscar Klefbom starting the season are quite low. Surgery went well in regards to being able to do normal every day things (like pick up kids, he said), but being able to play in NHL without doing more damage seems low. #Oilers

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) June 27, 2021

Klefbom underwent surgery to repair his shoulder and missed the entirety of the 2021 season. As Gregor says, the surgery apparently went well, but playing in the NHL come October would put Klefbom in a situation in which he could do more damage to his shoulder.

If Klefbom is going to miss more time due to this injury, general manager Ken Holland will need to find a veteran left-handed defenceman to compensate. He already needs to re-sign veteran @Adam Larsson, but Klefbom’s absence leaves @Darnell Nurse and @Kris Russell as the only veterans on the left side.

An option that could make sense is bringing back @Dmitry Kulikov, who the team acquired ahead of this season’s trade deadline. Other names include @Jamie Oleksiak, @Derek Forbort, and @Jon Merill.