Player Discussion Thoughts on Klefbom's year?

[Draiskull]

Expected him to be worse offensively and better defensively.
Overall a very solid season minus his play in front of the net.
I am sure he will polish that up and become a legit reliable top pairing Dman in a couple years.

Upcoming playoffs experience is going to teach him a lot

 

[McCombo]

Breakout season definetely. Decision making and hockey IQ might hold him down to become true #1 guy (Doughty, Keith, Karlsson etc level #1). He is making transition from #3 to #2. I would say he is somewhere in between for me. Needs to be more consistent.

Good thing he is 23 yr old and hasn't even played 200 games in NHL yet. Best thing is his contract. Hoping he can finally stay relatively healthy in coming years.

 

[Aerchon]

His last 20ish games before he got injured last year he was amazing offensively and defensively. So I had big expectations.

He met those expectations offensively. You can tell by comments by coaching and management and by his play he has been green lit for playing the offensive defenseman role.

Unfortunately this leads to some bad pinches and being less adept in his own zone. He also seems to rely on Larsson to do the heavy lifting.

In general he has taken a step back defensively. To which he is still acceptable for his role but not excelling.

He is young and developing well. On a good contract. He Has a perfect partner for his weaknesses. Fills a much needed role. Hope he continues to progress.

Personally I see him as our 3rd best defensemen. Clearly worse than Sekera and Larsson currently.

 

[CupofOil]

A little more up and down than I expected tbh. I thought he looked more steady last season before the injury, maybe he's differing to Larsson too much in the D zone?
His offensive game has taken a step forward though, has really developed a shooting mentality this season instead of that shoot wide on purpose thing he did a lot the last few seasons.

He's on the right development path but I'd like to see him be more assertive in the defensive zone (too many "head in the clouds" moments) and diversify his offensive zone game a bit. I think he excels in the neutral zone transitioning from defense to offense but he's a bit of a one trick pony in the offensive zone with the receive and immediately fire the puck. I like that he's shooting a lot more but I wish that he would walk the line more often looking for open lanes and traffic to form in front of the net. If he did that, I bet his point totals would shoot up.

In any event, we're lucky that Chia got him locked up when he did because we're talking minimum $5M long term if they had waited it out. I questioned the contract a bit at the time mainly due to durability issues but it's looking like a great gamble right now.

 

[Aceboogie]

I will add that while Klefbom is not all that assertive defensively (lets positioning do the work). This has caused him to take historically low penalties. Easily top in the league given the amount of minutes he plays

Ill present a new way think about this trade off between assertive play and penalties. The draw back of not playing assertive is that you allow opposition to make plays in your zone against you. Set up/make passes etc. The benefit it is that you dont take penalties because you are in tight areas jabbing sticks here and there and taking slashing/hooking/tripping/high sticking calls. Right off the bat we can all agree that cost outweighs the benefit when you are getting shredded and allowing plenty of goals. But we can also all agree Klefbom is solid defensively. He has his ups and downs but right in the middle is a solid defensive player

So now the important part. People need to start thinking about a penalty as essentially the same thing as if that player had NOT taken a penalty but played so bad on the ice for a full 2 minutes he caused his team to get outshot, out chanced and most times- scored out. A player taking an unnecessary penalty is the same as that play playing horrendous for 2 minutes. Because they result int he same impact on a game, for 2 minutes (or less) your team get hemmed into their own end and have a wahck of chances against them. Where I think we fall veyr short evaluation wise is that when a player gets a penalty we kind of go "eh to bad, dont like it but lets kill this thing" and when a player has a horrendous shift people go "Omg this player is so bad, what the hell, horrible game, just cost us a goal". Similarly, people also tend to not see the massive benefit from NOT taking penalties and not putting your team on the penalty kill but also being a solid defensive player at the same time. I fully understand some penalties need to happen and are just inevitable and some are missed calls, but if can avoid those and also all the unnecessary calls, you re bringing immense value to your team

 

[Aceboogie]

Hes also a young D prone to inconsistency. So I am happy TM took any leash off him offensively. Its been a major reason why hes been so good offensively. In addition to 12 goals already scored, hes hit like 5/6 posts

I expect next year TM will mold his defensive game more and make than more consistent. Personally I see no benefit to limiting offense so young in a career as its so hard to devleop offense. So the way TM has handled him as been tremendous

 

[Draiskull]

Hes also a young D prone to inconsistency. So I am happy TM took any leash off him offensively. Its been a major reason why hes been so good offensively. In addition to 12 goals already scored, hes hit like 5/6 posts

I expect next year TM will mold his defensive game more and make than more consistent. Personally I see no benefit to limiting offense so young in a career as its so hard to devleop offense. So the way TM has handled him as been tremendous

Yup .. its just what the doctor ordered for Oilers. Klefbom's offense was huge need here and if it hurts us defensively until he irons out the kinks in his game so be it.
We have Larsson to cover for him.

The season went perfect for his development.

 

[Aceboogie]

Yup .. its just what the doctor ordered for Oilers. Klefbom's offense was huge need here and if it hurts us defensively until he irons out the kinks in his game so be it.
We have Larsson to cover for him.

The season went perfect for his development.

Larsson has been a perfect fit. People are saying he looked better defensively last year (and I agree), but a big reason was because he was babysitting for Schultz. So limited his offensive game but he was able to show well defensively. This is the nature of having a dynamic blue chip young talent. He can show a lot of stuff and thats why I think hell be a #1 not that far off in future. Hes still at under 200 games in NHL so his defensive game is still rounding out

This year he was allowed to join the rush and kind of roam around. Perfectly ok with this as he took full advantage and really showed well. Next year I think hell be trusted to play the role as a #1 and have to be more responsible defensively so cant join the rush as much. Hell also get more consistant in his own end and be more KlefBOMB than KlefBUM

Another great aspect to his game is his development on the PP. Are PP is way more dangerous with him on it and I think hes filled the role as a PP QB. Not even sure we need to get one anymore

 

[tiger_80]

I think he's been the 3rd best d-man on the team this year behind Sekera and Larsson. He has the highest peaks of the 3, but he also has the worst brain fart moments of them. He's not assertive enough offensively or defensively to be a #1 d-man imo. Plays a bit too passive in both zones.

Don't get me wrong. He's been really strong for the most part this year and has been a key player in our top 4. And it's awesome he's been able to stay healthy.

I think ideally he's a No.3 d-man with potential to develop into a solid No2 in Seabrook mode (unlikely he ever reaches that level).

 

[Aceboogie]

I think ideally he's a No.3 d-man with potential to develop into a solid No2 in Seabrook mode (unlikely he ever reaches that level).

He's already better than Seabrook and already a top pairing D on a team at the top of there division on a D core that's top 10 in league for goals and shots against

I think oiler fans are a bit gun shy about getting pumped over players because of the past. But with Klefbom you gotta call a spade a spade. Coach is trusting him as a top pairing D and he's succeeding in a pretty major way

 

[frag2]

Also want to say

Better than Rielly

 

[tiger_80]

He's already better than Seabrook and already a top pairing D on a team at the top of there division on a D core that's top 10 in league for goals and shots against

I think oiler fans are a bit gun shy about getting pumped over players because of the past. But with Klefbom you gotta call a spade a spade. Coach is trusting him as a top pairing D and he's succeeding in a pretty major way

He's not on Seabrook's level in the latter's prime. I don't know what Seabrook is like now.

 

[MessierII]

He's already better than Seabrook and already a top pairing D on a team at the top of there division on a D core that's top 10 in league for goals and shots against

I think oiler fans are a bit gun shy about getting pumped over players because of the past. But with Klefbom you gotta call a spade a spade. Coach is trusting him as a top pairing D and he's succeeding in a pretty major way

Analytics will overrated him because he shoots a lot and they don't quantify for the gaffs he makes that lead to goals against. He's not better than Seabrook yet. Offensively he's not there defensively he's not close.

 

[Aceboogie]

Also want to say

Better than Rielly

Called Rielly regressing. They put Rielly in same position they put Phanuef years back. Young promising D trusted as #1D with no support. Threw him in the deep end. Klefbom on the other hand got support in a good partner and solid depth behind him

I have no doubt Rielly could be equal or better with proper support. But coulda/woulda/shoulda- here we are and whats done was done in Toronto

 

[Aceboogie]

Analytics will overrated him because he shoots a lot and they don't quantify for the gaffs he makes that lead to goals against. He's not better than Seabrook yet. Offensively he's not there defensively he's not close.

Thats kind of important.... He has 12 goals, tied for 3rd most at 5x5 for D, because hes a great offensive D. Looking down the shots totals ranking I dont see many D in top 20 that arent great offensive D. You dont put up 149 shots- 4th in the league by fluke

Seabrook is also momentually overrated. Surw he was good 3 years ago but hes not anymore. Hjmarlsson has lapped him and taking all his minutes.For comparison- Klefbom has almost double the shots Seabrook this year. Klefbom has 9x the goals at 5x5 he has. And not that you would care, but his shot metrics are some of the worst on the Hawks. So hes pretty much better in every aspect except on the PP.

I can buy the argument hes just below prime Seabrook (who was carried by Keith a ton but still good in his own right). But right now, its not even a question Klefbom is better. Seabrook has gotten his ass kicked by father time. His role on the Hawks is as a second pairing PP specialist

 

[Musashi]

I've been very happy with Klefbom's game this year. He won't even reach the 200 game mark this season so the ups and downs are to be expected.

So far he is developing the biggest weapons on our blueline with his vision for the stretch pass and the bomb he unleashes. As he gets more seasons under his belt, hopefully he gets more comfortable in the o-zone and continues to develop and round out his game.

Our best chance for a 1D IMO and the most capable of logging big minutes. Larsson and Sekera have been great this season but I think the most important thing they've added is creating the environment that gives Klefbom the chance to develop into a 1D.

 

[Mr Positive]

Hes also a young D prone to inconsistency. So I am happy TM took any leash off him offensively. Its been a major reason why hes been so good offensively. In addition to 12 goals already scored, hes hit like 5/6 posts

I expect next year TM will mold his defensive game more and make than more consistent. Personally I see no benefit to limiting offense so young in a career as its so hard to devleop offense. So the way TM has handled him as been tremendous

imo coaching has been pushing him to get offense because we have no OFD, and that's destabilized his game a bit. Of course, if Klefbom can develop his offense and balance that with defensive consistency like he showed last season, then we're talking about Klef as a true elite player approaching the Pietrangelos and Doughtys of the league.

 

[Aceboogie]

imo coaching has been pushing him to get offense because we have no OFD, and that's destabilized his game a bit. Of course, if Klefbom can develop his offense and balance that with defensive consistency like he showed last season, then we're talking about Klef as a true elite player approaching the Pietrangelos and Doughtys of the league.

Absolutely, agree 100%. And weve already him do well defensively when he needs to be (such as last season). So its not like hell be discovering this entirely new side of his game. Hes got it, just needs to fit it in with his offense

 

[bucks_oil]

It's a pretty good season marred by minor mental mistakes and general inconsistencies.

He still has, easily, the widest dimension and largest potential of any Oilers D and I think can be rounded out into a #1.

Mostly agree....

Though when you see Nurse on his game it gives one pause... that kid is so beastly and skates like very few D in the league. His 21year old season (this one) is pretty on par, if not stronger than Klef's was. I give him the benefit of the doubt as his skill set is more dynamic vs Klef's more "traditional" stabilizing influence.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

imo coaching has been pushing him to get offense because we have no OFD, and that's destabilized his game a bit. Of course, if Klefbom can develop his offense and balance that with defensive consistency like he showed last season, then we're talking about Klef as a true elite player approaching the Pietrangelos and Doughtys of the league.

I would be very happy if the coaching staff is taking this tack with Klefbom, because developing confidence and comfort as an offensive thinking defenseman is more much difficult, then just making them a defensive first and hoping the offensive comes along.

Getting the offensive game solidified in Klefa's game, gives them the opportunity re-enforce the defensive side as he continues to develop.

 

[Aceboogie]

Mostly agree....

Though when you see Nurse on his game it gives one pause... that kid is so beastly and skates like very few D in the league. His 21year old season (this one) is pretty on par, if not stronger than Klef's was. I give him the benefit of the doubt as his skill set is more dynamic vs Klef's more "traditional" stabilizing influence.

Agree on Nurse. Nurse has that alpha dog feel to his game. More of a gambler in defensive and offensive zone as he runs around more. But thats not a bad thing. He covers a ton of ice. Nurse already generates shots just as well as Klefbom. Nurse is a lot more of a wild stallion that needs to be directed and reigned in. But ill take that any day

Nurse is developing into a freak of nature. His athleticism alone is probably the best in NHL in a long time

 

[GMofOilers]

I think what we have now with Klefbom is close to the finished product. I dont see much room for improvement going forward.

Some people wont agree, but im a pretty good at evaluation of talent of dmen.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

I think what we have now with Klefbom is close to the finished product. I dont see much room for improvement going forward.

Some people wont agree, but im a pretty good at evaluation of talent of dmen.

Sounds good Kevin.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

I think what we have now with Klefbom is close to the finished product. I dont see much room for improvement going forward.

Some people wont agree, but im a pretty good at evaluation of talent of dmen.

i kind of agree.

i think he has been better defensively than he has this year.

 

[Forgot About Drai]

B+.

At times he has looked like a top pairing dman, but he is far too inconsistent. More consistency is needed for me too bump him up into the A range.

Very impressive season no doubt.