Oscar Klefbom plays a lot. It's what he does and it's what the Oilers need him to do. When you're on the top pairing, alongside fellow Swede Adam Larsson, and also find yourself playing the penalty kill and the power play that's how the ice time for the Edmonton defenceman has climbed to top of the League status. For a while, he was flirting with first. Only Drew Doughty averaged more ice time per game. Since that point earlier in the season, the 25-year-old has had his minutes scaled back. He began play Thursday night ranked fourth in the NHL in average per-game ice time (25:56) and third in the League for total ice time (388:53). Tack on another 25:24 for his night's work versus Florida.
With back-to-back games Monday in Washington and Tuesday in Tampa, Wednesday was a CBA-mandated day off.
"I slept until about 11:15 a.m.," said Klefbom. "Usually if I don't have to wake up, I just won't even set my alarm. I got to bed around 1:30 and normally I can sleep until 2 or 3 in the afternoon."
He didn't sleep nearly that late but the almost 10 hours of zzzz's helped replenish the strength and energy needed on a nightly basis.
"It was really a day off for me," Klefbom continued to explain. "I ended up getting up and I went out for lunch. I also tried to get a second lunch in a little later on."
With his minutes on the rise this season, the 2011 draftee fuels up with food every chance he gets. He also hydrates a lot.
"I start drinking water from almost the moment I wake up," explained Klefbom. "I have to hydrate as much as I can because often times in a game, I'll lose five, six pounds."
I would imagine it might have been even more than that Thursday night. Sunrise was hot (28 degrees) and humid. Not a bad combo for a holiday but not a great one-two punch for a hockey player.
"I'm a sweater," said Klefbom. "I not only take in water but I'll drink other stuff to make sure I'm making up what I lose."
With a day off, the physical activity for Klefbom was very limited. He did go for a walk and a dip in the ocean which was conveniently located across the street.
"I went for a swim and it felt great. Really relaxing," was the way Klefbom put it. "It wasn't just me but Nuge and Ty (Rattie) also went."
A nice change to be in the water instead of drinking it or skating on the frozen version of it. A physical activity with no pressure. It was a stress reliever. Whether it's with his play or choice of off-day activities this season, Oscar Klefbom has made a splash. There may be nights he'll be as vital as he was when playing 30:09 and 30:15 versus Nashville in their two games this season. Other nights, the numbers could be closer to the 20:41 he logged in the season opener versus New Jersey. Either way, he'll have to find the time to write a speech. That way he's prepared when the award for most minutes played by an Edmonton Oilers defenceman goes to...(insert pause and sound of envelope opening)...Oscar Klefbom.
