Top Cup Contender Places Veteran Defenseman on LTIR Days Before the Playoffs
Photo credit: NHL.com
Injuries to key players are the last thing the Edmonton Oilers need right now on the cusp of the postseason, and one more name has been added to the list; his year could be over.
The Edmonton Oilers are dealing with injuries to multiple players right now, including Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Mattias Ekholm.
Additional names on their list of the walking wounded include Stuart Skinner, Evander Kane, and Trent Frederic.
While the good news is that McDavid, Draisaitl, and Ekholm are expected to return in short order, a new name isn't expected back any time soon, and he may very well have played his final game as an Oiler.
Defenseman John Klingberg, who is playing in his 1st year in Edmonton after being signed as a free agent in January, has been placed on Long Term Injured Reserve.
Klingberg skated in 11 games with the Oilers, scoring 4 points (1G, 3A) while averaging 17:14 of ice time; his cap hit is $1,746,667.
He's played in a total of 644 NHL games with the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Maple Leafs and has 416 points (82G, 334A).
Did the Oilers take an unnecessary risk in signing Klingberg?
While the signing of Klingberg had high-reward potential, his injury history should have served as a tale of caution for GM Stan Bowman.
Edmonton radio commentator Dustin Nielson called out the Oilers for their backfired gamble on Klingberg, who not only cost them against the salary cap but missed the majority of last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs because of injury.
They took a risk, it backfired, cost them cap space at the deadline. On Klingberg's side it's tough to see a guy try to push through but the body can't hold up.
One of the only positives that the Oilers can take from Klingberg landing on Long Term Injured Reserve is that his salary won't count against their cap figure.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 10 | 195 ANSWERS Top Cup Contender Places Veteran Defenseman on LTIR Days Before the Playoffs Did the Oilers make a mistake by taking a gamble on the injury-prone John Klingberg? | ||
| Yes | 152 | 77.9 % |
| No | 43 | 22.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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