19. LD Oscar Klefbom – Farjestad (SEL)

DOB: Jul. 20/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 201lbs    

Midterm Rank: 33 | League Rank: 3rd SEL | Country Rank: 4th Sweden

     Farjestad’s Oscar Klefbom is a player who could materialize into a very steady defenseman for an NHL team someday. The 17-year-old has relished the opportunity to play for the Elitserien champions this past season and also improved his stock with a solid showing as the captain of the Swedish U18 team in Germany.

     Klefbom is an impressive athlete who has a strong package of skills that should allow him to be a physical presence at the NHL level. The Swede is a very mobile player who has a nice technical stride and has the strength to fight through checks with his combination of speed and power. With the puck, Klefbom has a calming presence on the ice and makes good decisions with the puck. Is a capable puck mover when he has the opportunity but also knows when to use the glass or the boards to clear the puck out.

     Offensive upside is still a bit of a question mark as Klefbom shows flashes of upside. Has a decent shot that he uses frequently, but could probably stand to pick his spots a little better when utilizing it. As mentioned, he can move the puck well but lacks a bit of the high-end creativity you might want from your powerplay quarterback.

     One of the biggest strengths Klefbom has is the amount of passion he plays with. He’s a natural leader and is carries himself in that regard on the ice. Competes hard and can make life difficult for opposing forwards with his tenacity and willingness to engage physically. Klefbom could benefit from some temperance as he is prone to making undisciplined plays, but it’s difficult to tone him down too much without negating that aspect of his game.

     Overall, there’s a lot to like about Klefbom’s game and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go even higher in the draft with the total package he brings to the table. While we can debate just how good Klefbom might be at the next level, he’s got the package to at least be a reliable second pairing defenseman even if he doesn’t hit his ceiling. There is certain to be a lot of demand for Klefbom in Minnesota and we’ll see how the Swede progresses in the next couple of the seasons as he’ll be NHL ready sooner than later.

Pros: Skating, Competitiveness, Character
Cons: Offensive Upside, Discipline
Skill-set Comparison: Marc Staal

Tags: 2011 nhl draft profile, Oscar Klefbom, Scouting Report

About the Author: Scott Campbell

Scott, 23, is the Managing Editor for TSR after helping to found the site in 2009. A 2010 graduate from Laurentian University's Sports Administration program, Scott currently attends Indiana State University as a graduate student majoring in Sports Management.