Oscar Klefbom says his criticism of Taylor Hall is also applicable to the rest of last season's core group.

Related - Klefbom: Hall rarely had best games when we needed him most

The Edmonton Oilers defenseman attempted to clarify comments made about the departed forward Sunday.

"All of our key players underperformed, including myself. Not only Taylor Hall," Klefbom told Ola Winther of HockeySverige.se in a follow-up interview, hours after his original remarks were published.

Here's what the blue-liner originally told Winther, as translated by Swedish journalist Martin Lunden:

I also understand the strong (negative) reactions (to trading Hall) (especially as) Hall has been our best player for the last couple of years. But at the same time, it's also somewhat tricky to pinpoint exactly what he has been able to accomplish for us.

Unfortunately, he rarely had his best games when we played the toughest teams - when we might've needed it the most - while he always played amazingly well when we were up towards the somewhat (lesser) teams.

Hall was traded to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Adam Larsson on June 29. Hall notched 132 goals and 328 points in 381 games over six seasons with the Oilers after being selected first overall in 2010.

The Oilers signed Klefbom, a first-round pick in 2011, to a seven-year contract extension last September.

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Tyson Barrie to a four-year contract reportedly worth $22 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Barrie is coming off his fourth full season with the Avalanche since being drafted in the third round in 2009.

The 2015-16 campaign marked the second straight season in which Barrie led all Avalanche defenders in scoring, doing so while also tying a career high with 13 goals in 78 games.

Barrie became the first restricted free agent to make it to an arbitration hearing on Friday. Reports suggested that Barrie was seeking a one-year, $6-million deal, while the Avalanche were reportedly looking for a two-year contract that would have paid Barrie $4 million and $4.25 million respectively.

With Barrie's deal done, the Avalanche have now signed all of their pending free agents.

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At least one member of the Edmonton Oilers is encouraged by the team's decision to trade Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson earlier this summer.

That would be defenseman Oscar Klefbom, who - in an interview with Swedish hockey news site hockeysverige.se - believes the team as a whole is set to be better despite losing its best player.

As translated by Martin Lunden of Swedish Oil:

I believe the team as whole is better. We've got plenty of promising forwards and we desperately needed a top-right defender. I also believe Larsson is due for his real breakthrough and hopefully I'll get the chance to form a defensive pairing with him and get the chemistry going.

I also understand the strong (negative) reactions (to trading Hall) (especially as) Hall has been our best player for the last couple of years. But at the same time, it's also somewhat tricky to pinpoint exactly what he has been able to accomplish for us.

Unfortunately, he rarely had his best games when we played the toughest teams - when we might've needed it the most - while he always played amazingly well when we were up towards the somewhat (lesser) teams.

It's important to note Klefbom refers to Hall as Edmonton's best player over the past couple seasons, and rightfully so.

In his eyes, however, the team as a whole is more balanced with help on the back end, which, ideally, will enable the remaining forwards to step up and fill the hole left by the departed winger.

Still, the defenseman's assessment may not be quite accurate.

Klefbom's comments will certainly be front of mind when the Devils host the Oilers on Jan. 7.

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Evgeni Malkin's 30th birthday is off to a low-key start.

The Pittsburgh Penguins center took to Instagram on Sunday to show off his small cake indulgence.

One must stay in shape during the offseason, after all.

Malkin, of course, put together quite an impressive career resume prior to turning 30.

• Two-time Stanley Cup champion (2009, 2016)
• Two-time Art Ross Trophy winner (2009, 2012)
• Conn Smythe Trophy (2009)
• Hart Trophy (2012)
• Calder Trophy (2007)

Someone better start designing his Hall of Fame cake.

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Jamie Benn has one thing on his mind as he continues to nurse a core muscle injury, the World Cup of Hockey.

The Dallas Stars forward is two weeks removed from surgery to repair the injury and as he progresses, Benn admits his main focus is being well enough to play for Team Canada.

"As of right now, yeah. I think this is a surgery that I’m able to come back a little quicker than double-hip surgery," Benn told DallasStars.com's Mark Stepneski. "That’s the main focus I’m training towards being able to make it for World Cup. We’ll just see what happens."

According to Benn, his recovery to date has been rather boring, but should intensify in the coming weeks when he plans to finally get back on the ice.

"Well, I think I’ll get on the ice later this week and just keep ramping it up a little more each time," said Benn. "I still think that’s a lot of time, enough time for me to be ready to jump into high-level hockey. We’ll see how it goes."

Benn was a member of the Canadian squad which captured Olympic gold at the 2014 Games in Sochi. He contributed two goals in six games, including the decisive lone goal in Canada's semi-final win over Team U.S.A.

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The Arizona Coyotes and defenseman Jakob Chychrun have come to terms on an entry-level contract, the club announced Saturday.

The Coyotes selected him 16th overall in June's draft after acquiring the pick from the Detroit Red Wings along with Pavel Datsyuk's contract in exchange for the 20th and 53rd picks.

Chychrun notched 49 points in 62 regular-season games in his second season with the OHL's Sarnia Sting, adding two goals and six assists in seven playoff contests.

The 18-year-old was one of two 2016 first-round picks for the Coyotes, who chose forward Clayton Keller seventh overall.

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With a new contract now sorted, Michael Stone will turn his focus to returning to the ice.

The Arizona Coyotes defenseman continues to rehab his knee, following ACL and MCL surgery, which he feels is improving.

"I’m doing really good actually," Stone said, according to Sarah McLellan of AZCentral Sports. "I think my knee is coming along nicely."

Stone has not taken the ice since Mar. 26, in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, where he went down after getting his leg tangled along the boards.

"It’s still not real strong just yet," Stone said. "But I feel really good, and the fact that I’m doing the things that I’m doing right now is a positive sign for me."

While Stone continues to work at getting back to full health, he admits there is no timeline in place for his return, though he is hopeful to be back for the start of the regular season.

"I’m pushing to be ready to go for the start of the season," Stone said.

"Whether that happens or not, I guess in some way it's in my control. But you have to see how everything responds. It’s something where your legs are what you’re using 100 percent of the time on the ice. You gotta be ready to go, so we’ll see what happens with that."

Stone is coming off his fourth full-season with the Coyotes where he hit a career-high 36 points in 75 games.

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The effects of the Dennis Wideman incident are still very real for NHL linesman Don Henderson.

The official underwent neck surgery early in July to repair damage from the hit, and there's concern his on-ice career may be finished, according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe.

Henderson was knocked to the ice by the Calgary Flames defenseman in a game back on Jan. 27.

Wideman - who was later diagnosed with a concussion - was originally suspended 20 games, and the sentence was later reduced to 10 by a neutral arbitrator.

Henderson, meanwhile, was unable to return to the ice through the balance of the regular season.

"I know a lot of people are saying stuff like, 'Hey, Wideman’s not that type of guy . . . that’s not in his nature . . . he’s a good kid,'" a fellow official told Dupont. "And I say, 'Yeah, so what?!' That doesn’t make it any less egregious. He attacked him from behind, the puck was nowhere near the two of them, and now Henderson’s career may be finished."

The NHL has since filed a lawsuit against the Players' Association with a view to vacate the reduced suspension ruling.

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