Mattias Ekholm is perhaps the most significant deadline acquisition the Edmonton Oilers have made in any of their attempts at winning a Stanley Cup. He immediately stepped into the first defensive pairing, stabilized a young Evan Bouchard and allowed him to develop into the elite two-way player he is today, and set the example of what giving it all on every shift really looks like.
The Oilers were a better team with Ekholm in the lineup as their postseason results show clearly. Time and age catch up with everyone however, and last year in the Stanley Cup final, Ekholm played at less than 100% and was victimized more than once as a result. Everyone's rosters are set for this upcoming postseason, so the question isn't if Ekholm will need to play a significant role, it's "Is he still capable?"
Age and statistical decline
Wayne Gretzky scored nine goals in his final season. Offensive production is often the thing that slips as players age, and while it does affect a player's overall value, it doesn't mean they're suddenly useless. Ekholm appears to be facing that reality. His goals scored over the past three seasons are 11 and nine (in 65 games), and currently six (in 69). His overall points are steady, with 31 assists this year, but some of that may be the result of sharing icetime with Connor McDavid.
We shouldn't sell Ekholm's offense short. He still knows when to jump up and hammer a shot on net, and his shot power hasn't fallen off. The fact is Ekholm is a very good player and he's likely to fade to "good" before he's ever a true liability. The advanced statistics show that, while he isn't quite as elite as his first seasons in Edmonton, he is still a positive contributor who plays more than 20 minutes on any given night.
Signed long term
Ekholm's current contract expires at the end of the season. He's 35 years old and he signed a three-year extension with Edmonton that has him in Oiler colours until 2029. He won't be a first pair player by that date, but if he can stay healthy the team should be better with him than without.
The 2025 playoff struggles appear to be behind him and he's far from the first player to play through injury in pursuit of the Cup. Looking at the body of Ekholm's work this season, he can still be asked to play tough minutes against the league's best and he delivers more often than not.