Oscar Klefbom – The Next Core Piece?

On Tuesday afternoon, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug tweeted out the following regarding Oilers’ D Oscar Klefbom, who is arguably the best option that the team has currently on the blue-line.

Look for Oilers to lock up Klefbom on a long term deal this summer. They can Negotiate after July 1st on an extension.

Really, this should come as no surprise. Oscar Klefbom was drafted in the first round back in 2011, and has been developed since then. Klefbom spent two injury filled seasons in Sweden, then came over to North America last season. Split between the AHL and NHL, Klefbom emerged as a real player, becoming comfortable with the style.

After a first 25 games split between the AHL and NHL this year, Klefbom emerged as a legit NHL option, playing his way into Edmonton’s top-four defensive unit, and then eventually into the role of Edmonton’s top option. Klefbom was very good this season, and was a bright spot in a dark year.

Oscar Klefbom has the makings of a special defender at the NHL level. His hockey IQ is through the roof, and he always makes the smart play. Klefbom is defensively sound, and while not a pure puck-moving defender, he can move the puck up the ice with smooth passing skills, and isn’t afraid to shoot.

Not only can he handle big minutes five-on-five, but Klefbom can also play on the penalty kill and handle spot duty on the power-play. There isn’t any real debate here, Klefbom can handle 20+ minutes a night and be an impactful NHL defender.

Now, we do need to temper expectations a little bit here. While Klefbom is good, he is still developing as a player in the NHL. He isn’t ready to take on the role of number one defender next year in Edmonton. He and Justin Schultz can remain a pairing, but should likely be relegated to the second unit.

Use Klefbom in a somewhat sheltered role in 2015-16, giving him big minute totals, but solid offensive zone starts and middling opposition, not the strongest. Soon, Klefbom will be able to handle it all and carry the load, but soon is not 2015-16. He’s a top-four option, but isn’t a top-two option, at least presently.

So, should Edmonton try to sign this guy long-term? You bet they should, because he is going to be a massive part of the future. Klefbom represents the first real player drafted and developed in this era that has emerged as a real top-four NHL option. Martin Marincin is close, but Klefbom is ahead of him in terms of development at this time.

Even better, this won’t be a short-term bridge deal, Edmonton wants to get this kid locked up for a long time. I’m thinking we see four or five years get tacked on to the one remaining year on Klefbom’s deal, which is perfect. Four or five years allows Klefbom to reach his prime, assuring another big payday, while giving Edmonton a good defender for multiple years at a reasonable cap hit.

What kind of money can we expect here? I think that is tough to assess right now, but I have a few comparable contracts to use here. One of them is Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin, who was drafted in the same year. Brodin is a legit top-four defender for a playoff team, and will be making $4.166 M per year for six seasons, starting on July 1st.

Another comparable? Well, there are two here, Alec Martinez and Jake Muzzin, both in LA, who are young and impactful defenders who signed long-term contracts. Both of them signed for $4 M per season, with Muzzin getting five years and Martinez getting six.

So, based off of these comparable deals, I’d say the dollar value should come in around $4-$4.5 M per season on a four/five year deal. Considering Edmonton got decent value on Nail Yakupov’s recent extension, I’m fairly confident in this assessment.

Now, as Rishaug mentioned, nothing can happen until July 1st, but it is clear that Edmonton has made Klefbom, a bright young asset, a real priority this summer, and that is a good thing. Oscar Klefbom is a real solution to a problem today, and will only get better, he’s going to be a great Oiler.

When we talk about the core players in Edmonton, I think it is time we include Klefbom with the likes of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and yes, Nail Yakupov.