Oilers may be without key defender for a large chunk of the 2020-21 season

Per NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers may be without defenceman Oscar Klefbom for a significant portion of the 2020-21 season.

Friedman sent out a tweet Wednesday morning suggesting Klefbom dealt with injuries this past season and is considering surgery, which would keep him out long-term. He also did mention the fact that the start date of next season is not yet known, however it is expected to be in either December or January. This would mean that if Klefbom does decide to have surgery, he would miss significant time.

This would be devastating news for the Oilers, as Klefbom is currently their top defenceman. While he has dealt with injuries throughout his career, he has been very good for them when healthy. On a team that lacks a true number one defenceman, they need the 27-year-old in order to have success.

The injuries he was apparently dealing with help explain his mediocre 2019-20 campaign, where he posted five goals and 34 points in 62 games, along with two assists in four playoff games. With rumours flying around that the Oilers have been calling the Arizona Coyotes on defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, this news makes that scenario even more likely.

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