The Edmonton Oilers are only a couple of days removed from making a significant announcement about Connor McDavid and Jake Walman. With those players locked up for at least the next three years (including this year), they made another announcement on Wednesday morning, October 8.
The team announced a contract extension for Mattias Ekholm, 35. According to a team press release, the two parties agreed to a three-year $4 million contract extension that will begin next season.
Mattias Ekholm Extension Arriving as Expected
The #Oilers have signed defenceman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $4 million.
In Elliotte Friedman’s first written 32 Thoughts entry of the new season, he revealed some details about where the Oilers stood with Ekholm.
“Next up could be Ekholm, who desires to stay,” Friedman wrote on October 7. “I’m getting mixed messages on whether it will be a short-term deal or something modelled on Chris Tanev to spread out the cap hit.”
For those unfamiliar, Chris Tanev agreed to a six-year $4.5 million per season extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, 2024. The defender was 34 years old at the time of the extension.
Ekholm did not play the whole 2024-25 season due to injury. Initially drafted by the Nashville Predators with the 102nd overall pick in 2009, he has spent just over two years with the team. Last year, he recorded 33 points in 65 games while averaging 22:12 per game.
Stan Bowman on Mattias Ekholm
GettyOilers announced a bit contract extension.
During the summer, GM Stan Bowman spoke with the media after the NHL entry draft about several topics. Mixed in with questions about McDavid and Evan Bouchard‘s respective futures were questions about Ekholm.
In particular, he attributed Ekholm’s sup-optimal performance in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers to rust.
“He was totally healthy by the time he came back. I think the biggest thing was that he missed a lot of time,” Bowman said on June 28. “If anything, it was hard for him to jump into basically the highest level. You’re jumping into the Stanley Cup Final when you haven’t played in a couple of months. So I thought he did his best. He was healthy.”
“If anything, he just wasn’t really as crisp or as sharp because he hadn’t played a lot, and everyone else had been playing every other day for two months.”
Amidst a question about extending the likes of Brett Kulak, Walman, and Ekholm, Bowman spoke about Ekholm’s value to the team.
“Ekholm’s been a rock here for a long time,” Bowman revealed. “I think up until he got hurt, he was probably our best defenceman.”
What’s Next for the Oilers
Will be interesting to see which way he goes with it. Free agent D market might be something enticing to explore for him, but his role with Edmonton is important and he has a chance
The next piece of business for the Oilers’ blueline pertains to Kulak, as mentioned above.
The Stony Plain-native and Troy Stecher are the two regulars on the backend who aren’t signed past the 2025-26 season. With that in mind, it’s logical that his deal would be the next hammer to drop.
The Calgary Flames draft pick played for the Montreal Canadiens before being acquired by the Oilers. Last year was filled with career highs for the left-handed blueliner. In 82 games, he scored 25 points while averaging 20:32 per game.
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