Connect with us

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers News & Rumors: Klefbom, Lagesson & Kahun

What’s the news from the Edmonton Oilers? Who signed with the team? How is Oscar Klefbom’s injury?

In this edition of Edmonton Oilers News & Rumors, I’ll report about Oscar Klefbom’s injury and playing prognosis. I’ll also report how recently-signed William Lagesson is playing in Sweden. Finally, I’ll share news about the recent signing of Dominik Kahun and what that signing might mean to the Oilers.

Related: Oilers Have Internal Competition For NHL Blue Line Job Heating Up

Item One: Oscar Klefbom Might Not Play in 2020-21

 Oilers sportswriter Jim Matheson reported today that Oscar Klefbom (who’ suffering from an aggravated shoulder) might not be available to play during the 2020-21 season. In fact, as Oilers general manager Ken Holland noted in the report,

“I’m planning for 2020-21 that Oscar is not playing and anything other than that will be a surprise. A pleasant surprise.” (From “Oilers notebook: Defensive blueliner William Lagesson tearing it up in Sweden,” Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal, 06/11/20).

Oscar Klefbom, Edmonton Oilers

Although Klefbom is obviously seriously injured, Holland has chosen not to place him on the long-term injured reserve list. Partly, that’s because he doesn’t have to yet because there’s no hockey to be played any time in the near future.

The only reason why Holland might see placing Klefbom on the long-term injury list as beneficial because it might create the salary-cap flexibility needed to sign another defenseman. However, again there’s no hockey coming soon; and, Holland also believes the team is set at defense.

The one small wrinkle is that RFA Ethan Bear, who found his game and played a key role on defense during his rookie season is not signed. However, he doesn’t have arbitration rights and probably won’t be able to sign for huge amount of money.

About a month ago, Klefbom was reported to be getting treatment in Sweden, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. Dreger also noted that surgery would likely occur, which means a long period of time for recovery. Hence, that recovery time is the reason for the prognosis of so much time away.

Item Two: William Lagesson Is Surprisingly Scoring Tons in Sweden

Isn’t William Lagesson supposed to be a defensive defenseman? That’s his reputation, but he’s going against form this season with his Vita Hasten HC in Sweden’s second-division HockeyAllsvenskan this season. So far, in 11 games in 2020-21, Lagesson has scored three goals and six assists for nine points.

That’s a surprising total for him and, frankly, given what I’ve noted above with Klefbom probably missing from the lineup, gives Lagesson a real chance during the Oilers’ training camp to both crack the roster and make the opening-game lineup.

William Lagesson, Edmonton Oilers

Given that he hadn’t scored in eight games with the Oilers last season and only three goals and seven assists with Bakersfield in 25 AHL games last year, Lagesson’s pace in Sweden is quite a bit of surprise.

Just a few days ago, Lagesson signed a two-year, two-way contract for the first year, which becomes a one-way contract during the second year with the Oilers. The contract has an AAV of $725,000 per year. Lagesson will likely stay in Sweden until the beginning of the 2020-21 NHL season.

Item Three: The Oilers Sign Dominik Kahun to a One-Year Contract

Earlier this week, the Oilers announced they had signed Dominik Kahun to a one-year contract valued at $975,000. Given’s Kahun’s NHL success, that seems like a great deal for the Oilers.

What is also interesting is that Kahun played two seasons (from 2009 to 2011) of U-16 hockey in Mannheim, Germany, with the Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl. They were a hugely successful combination there and, together, scored 627 points in 111 combined games. That’s like almost an average of three points each per game during that time.

Dominik Kahun Edmonton Oilers
Dominik Kahun, Edmonton Oilers

It’ll be interesting to see if the 25-year-old Czech native Kahun (he was born in Plana, of the Czech Republic but moved to Germany when he was very young) is reunited with the 25-year-old German Draisaitl. Who wouldn’t at least try? Kahun scored 12 goals and 31 points in 56 games split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres last season. He also scored 13 goals and 37 points in 82 2018-19 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Kahun did note his excitement to once again play with Draisaitl, and said it was a factor in his decision to sign in Edmonton.

Related: Edmonton Oilers Sign RFA Defenseman William Lagesson

He said, “It helped me for sure, a lot. We obviously have a lot of contact together. When there was a thing about Edmonton, we started talking a lot. He sure helped me with that and I’m glad for that.” If he does play with Draisaitl, he’d have a great chance to score at least 20 goals next season.

Later in the week after his signing, Kahun was loaned to EHC Munchen of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He had been training with the team during this offseason and will stay with them to get some games in prior to the start of the 2020-21 season.  

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

More News

Discover more from NHL Trade Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading