Mattias Ekholm reportedly willing to take hometown discount for Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm is now heading into the final year of his four-year $25 million contract. At 35 years old, Ekholm is both a key part of Edmonton’s defensive core and also one of the bigger questions when it comes to long-term planning.

Since arriving from Nashville, Ekholm has given the Oilers exactly what they needed: stability on defence. Last season, despite missing games due to injury, he managed to put up nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 65 games finishing with a +11 rating. In the playoffs, he scored six points in seven appearances. Simply put, Ekholm has been logging tough minutes against top opposition while also contributing offensively.

But as much as he means to the Oilers, the reality is that Ekholm is getting older and the business side of hockey doesn’t stop. His $6.25 million cap hit makes him one of Edmonton’s higher-paid defensemen and with the contract set to expire after this season, decisions will need to be made.

On the surface, one might expect a player of his caliber to push for another big payday after showing he can still produce at a high level. Yet Oilers analyst Jason Gregor recently suggested the opposite might happen.

Oilers analyst provides interesting insight into Mattias Ekholm contract talks

Speaking on the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast, Gregor said he believes Ekholm and his family are so comfortable in Edmonton that he could actually accept a pay cut to stay.

Gregor described how the Ekholm family, originally from Sweden, has settled to life in Alberta. “Yeah, I think it’s coming down kind of thing. Yeah, they absolutely love Edmonton. They’re from Sweden. Their kids love it,” Gregor said.

He joked about how most people dislike the cold but explained how the family enjoys sledding and tobogganing when the temperatures are more manageable. His point was that Edmonton has become home for the Ekholms and that could influence Mattias’s decision when it comes to his next deal.

Gregor even speculated that a two-year extension worth around $4.5 million per season might be realistic as a significant discount from his current salary.

Mattias Ekholm previously addressed his future in Edmonton

For Ekholm himself, the message has been consistent. He told Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal that while he knows he isn’t getting younger, he values both his role on the ice and the security his family needs.

“It’s a contract year, and I’m not getting any younger. I know what I bring on the ice, but I also have a family, and security matters. Do I want to stay in Edmonton? Absolutely. There’ll be talks, but let’s be honest. You’ve got a bigger focus coming up in a few minutes,” he said.

That bigger focus of course, is helping the Oilers finally push through and win a championship.

The Oilers for their part have every reason to want Ekholm to stay. He is one of their most reliable defenders, capable of matching up against elite forwards, moving the puck smoothly out of his own zone and providing leadership to a group that has well sometimes lacked experience on the blue line.

Without him, the team would be forced to rely heavily on younger less proven players or spend big in free agency to replace him.

Of course, there are risks involved. At 35, Ekholm is at the stage of his career where decline is inevitable even if it hasn’t shown up strongly yet. He already missed some time last season with injury and that risk will only grow over the next few years.

For now, all of this remains speculation, but what seems certain is that both player and team want the same thing. Ekholm has made it clear he wants to stay in Edmonton and the Oilers know how important he is to their success. If he remains healthy and productive this season, an extension could be one of the first pieces of business the front office tackles.