Klim Kostin was at last night's playoff game and Oilers fans loved it
Edmonton Oilers fans saw a familiar face in the crowd during last night’s 7-4 victory over the LA Kings.
Ex-Oilers forward Klim Kostin is back in the city to take in Edmonton’s playoff run. He sat in the lower bowl and was shown on the jumbotron wearing his old #21 Oilers jersey as a cape. This received a loud ovation from the crowd as the 24-year-old Russian forward smiled.
Klim is him! pic.twitter.com/VwQypSJKgz
— Baggedmilk, Oily Boy 🍹 (@jsbmbaggedmilk) April 23, 2024
Kostin only spent a single season with the Oilers, but his bubbly personality and hard-nosed play on the ice adhered him to the hearts of many within the fan base. More than a few fans were disappointed that the team had traded him to the Detroit Red Wings last summer due to salary cap constraints.
During that one season in Alberta’s capital, Kostin scored 11 goals and 21 points in the regular season and came up with a few big goals in the playoffs. He has since been traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he currently plays.
His love of Edmonton is well-documented. Just a few weeks ago, when the Sharks were in town, Kostin gushed about the city and told Daily Hive that it would always hold a special place in his heart. It seems like that love is mutual among Oilers fans as well.
We would love to have Klim back!
— Steve I (@SteveI26827992) April 23, 2024
Miss him. Hope he comes back. #LetsGoOilers 🧡💙
— Jec 🩷 (@JecInTheBox) April 23, 2024
Here’s hoping. I miss him
— julia (@julia_sayres) April 23, 2024
Would love to see him back in an Oilers jersey next year.
— Ninja Ferret (@SamuraiBouvier) April 23, 2024
— X- Connors Better…. (@marten_ferguson) April 23, 2024
He will 100% be an Oiler again
— Brad Lauder (@OILfanincowtown) April 23, 2024
He’s gotta come back.
— Matt Lamoureux 🇨🇦 (@MattLamoureux86) April 23, 2024
I wish he was still playing here
— x-Corinne (@MissCorinnes) April 23, 2024
Klim is the real deal and you know where his heart is
— DW MARTA (@DWMARTA2) April 23, 2024
KLIM is a real one!
— X-TheIronE (@Pey_DayYEG) April 23, 2024
Chemistry is important in hockey.
Something about Edmonton that makes Klim Kostin shine.
Would love to see Klim compete for the Oilers again.— St.Albert James (@RealCNN) April 23, 2024
all the oilers fans screaming to bring klim back and in the midst is klim kostin also screaming to bring klim back
— x – #1 gray fan (@gf4wonu) April 23, 2024
Come home, Klimmer:)
— x – Finnian (@oilersjaysrule) April 23, 2024
GET THIS MAN BACK ON THE ROSTER!!!
— Ramrod (@ToddMac23967705) April 23, 2024
Those hoping for Kostin to sign with the Oilers in free agency this summer will be disappointed to hear that he still has one more season under contract with the Sharks with a $2 million cap hit. Trading for him is possible, but Edmonton would need to find a third-party broker if they want to salary retention as the Sharks have used up their retention spots.
Still, Kostin’s path may come through the Oilers once again. He is a big, strong player who has lots of offensive potential. It didn’t seem like Edmonton wanted to trade him, rather they were forced by their lack of cap space.
We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see if that chapter is to be written.
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