Edmonton Oilers sign Mattias Ekholm to a three-year contract extension

The Edmonton Oilers announced on Wednesday that they have signed left-handed Swedish defenceman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year contract extension.

In what has been a very busy week for the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Oilers specifically, they have secured yet another core piece of their team to a contract extension. The club signed the veteran Ekholm to a three-year contract with an annual average value (AAV) of $4 million.

The 35 year old defenceman was entering the final year of a four-year contract, worth $6.25 million AAV that he signed back in 2021 as a member of the Nashville Predators. He was acquired by the Oilers from the Predators with a 2024 sixth round pick for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a first round pick in 2023 and fourth round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Ekholm has been a stabilizing force for the Oilers backend ever since his acquisition, currently pairing alongside Evan Bouchard. His defensive prowess and poised style of play has been a breath of fresh air for the Oilers defensive core that has not been known for their stability.

As a member of the Oilers, he has played 165 regular season games, scoring 24 goals and 68 assists for 92 points. He has also been a plus-83 in his time in Oil Country. In the playoffs he has been equally as impressive, playing 44 games and scoring 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) and a plus-nine rating.