Two Oilers on LTIR can now officially retire

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Ryan Hall
May 17, 2023 (10:29)

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With the Oilers switching gears from playoff mode into the offseason and drafting, players who have sat on the LTIR all season will be able to officially retire now. Two key players that have sat on LTIR are our goaltender Mike Smith and forward Oscar Klefbom.

Smith, 41, has been dealing with an injury all season and has been unable to play. This injury has allowed the Oilers to sign Jack Campbell who just completed his first year of his five-year deal. It also allowed the rise of Stuart Skinner, who became the Oilers' starter for the playoffs.

Klefbom also has been dealing with career-crippling injuries. It's felt around the NHL and throughout the organization that he will no longer play in the NHL due to these troubles. According to capfriendly.com, the 29-year-old defenceman completed his seven-year $29.1 million contract and had a 4.167 million cap hit.

Smith was on a 2-year $4.4 million deal.

These two players will give the Oilers more flexibility once they're off the books. Thrillers are currently looking at their roster to see how they will construct it for next season, as they do not have much cap space to work with and have nine players that are either unrestricted free agents or restricted.

Several of them are restricted free agents with arbitration rights which means they will deemed a raise.

General manager Ken Holland certainly has his work cut out for him. His first challenge will be the NHL Entry Draft which will be held on June 28th and 29th.