FEATURE: Keep Calm and Klefbom

EDMONTON, AB - What more is there to be said about Oscar Klefbom?
The Swedish defenceman's growing influence on the Oilers over his seven seasons in Edmonton have been seemingly matched, every passing year, with a growing affinity from his fans, coaches and teammates for his steady contributions from the blueline.
The 2019-20 NHL campaign became no exception, as the 26-year-old found new ways to maximize the impact of his smooth skating, offensive vision, and defensive poise on the success of the Oilers and their push for a return to the postseason - a place he's only been once over the entirety of his NHL career.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

WRITTEN
FEATURE: Steady Sheahan
FUTURE WATCH: Bakersfield's adversity
FEATURE: Kassian Country
GENE'S BLOG: Cup Run Memories
OTHER
Colby Cave Memorial Fund
VIDEO
Mikko Koskinen](https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/rewind-19-20--mikko-koskinen/t-277437406/c-5383342)
RAW | Benson & Skinner
Klefbom delivers the full package from the back end as the linchpin of the Oilers defensive corps, utilizing his skillset in all facets of the game to accumulate significant minutes played after holding the clubhouse lead in the category for four consecutive seasons coming into '19-20.
"We have a lot of defencemen here that want to play more and show the coaches what they're made of," Klefbom said. "I have a lot of that responsibility and I try to do my best with those minutes."
Among the League's most-utilized players this season, Klefbom has ranked fifth in average ice-time with 25:25, while chipping in five goals and 34 points in 62 games to help the Oilers into a position to clinch that highly-coveted playoff spot at the time of the season's postponement.
Beyond the bubble of Oil Country, to the players and coaches who feel the impact of the Swede's calming influence on a nightly basis, Klefbom still hasn't garnered the attention he deserves around the NHL for his efforts.
"Not even close, I think," fellow Oilers blueliner and countryman Adam Larsson said. "For me, he's one of the top guys in the League. I think especially this year, he's brought a lot more consistency to his game and he's taking charge out there. I think this year is as good as I've seen him."
Carry on then, Oscar.
For a new head coach in Dave Tippett, keen to get the most out of his side and the Swedish defenceman in his first year in charge of the Oilers bench, that high ice-time total wasn't about to change.
"Ultimately, you look at your bench and you look at players you can put into a situation where they can help you win the most," Tippett explained earlier in the season. "When he's on the ice that much, he must be doing some good things.
"That's what we think of him."

On the penalty kill, Klefbom's defensive awareness aided his 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame to help the Oilers claim the League's second-best PK at 84.8 percent - a 9.6 percent improvement that's been a far cry from last season's struggles.
He'd continue to draw the tough assignments at even strength as well, often being tasked with going head-to-head against other teams' top lines and best players.
Klefbom quarterbacked the Oilers high-octane, high-offence power play that's towered over the competition all season as the League's best at 29.5 percent, with the NHL's top-two offensive names in Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid leading the charge in front of him. But Klefbom's placement on the blueline during the man advantage is a position deserving of its own merit.
While the Dynamic Duo and names like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James Neal forge ahead, Klefbom is the anchor behind them that keeps the operation afloat.
"Leon, Connor, Nuge and Neal are really good on the power play but I want to be out there for a reason and be a threat as well," said Klefbom. "I don't want to just stand on the blueline and you know, 'Klefbom is going to give the puck to Connor.' I want to be a threat as well - that's when we can be the most lethal."

The trust and responsibility placed on Klefbom translated into the best start of his career as the Karlstad, SWE product chipped in with 17 points (16 of them assists) in the first 24 games of the new season, accumulating a league-high 25:56 in ice time along the way.
A two-assist night as part of a 5-2 road win over the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 19 included 31:38 in ice-time - representing a season high for Klefbom and one of two games this season where the Swede would eclipse the 30-minute mark.
"I'm really happy about the responsibility that I'm getting from being out there on the penalty kill and the powerplay, playing a lot of heavy minutes," said Klefbom. "If I'm out there for that many minutes, I've got to manage my minutes and obviously, do something good with it."
Overall, Klefbom's levels of calmness and consistency for the Oilers exceeded their already-high expectations. He elevated his game to assure the rigours of a busy regular season would be rewarded in the opportunity to play his best hockey in the postseason - even if that chance comes in the late summer.
"It's going to be really weird to go in there and play until maybe late August ... but you want to go into the playoffs," Klefbom said. "We deserve to be in the playoffs. We've been having a good year, and this should be, and would have been, the most interesting part of the year for us."
For now, during this unprecedented time, all Klefbom can do it keep calm.
"When you've been playing some good hockey, you deserve to be on the ice for the most exciting time of the year. We're just going to ride this out, take one day at a time. I think all the players in the whole league want to get back playing."