Olympic injuries could open the door for Edmonton Oilers defenceman

In December, Team Sweden announced their roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan. Being a hockey hot bed like Sweden, there were many players to choose from and there were inevitably going to be players who were left off the roster that were deserving.

This was exemplified when the roster that was announced left off Edmonton Oilers veteran defenceman Mattias Ekholm. He was not happy about being forgotten and rightfully so, he has been one of the most dependable two-way defenders in the NHL for years.

Now, given the injuries sustained by many players on the roster, they may be forced to turn to Ekholm.

Oilers Ekholm could be picked for Olympics

In recent weeks, veteran NHL blueliners Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, and Jonas Brodin have found themselves sidelined with injuries. Given the proximity to the tournament, there is a chance that all three players are unable to play, opening a spot for Ekholm on the Swedish blueline.

Hedman, 35, is a reliable top-four defender for the Tampa Bay Lightning but has been sidelined since December 11th. He was placed on long-term injured reserve and it was announced days later he would undergo surgery on his elbow but was expected to return in time for the Olympics. It is unclear at this time when he will return and given the lack of updates, his future at the Olympics remains up in the air.

Karlsson, 35, suffered a lower-body injury and was announced to be out for a minimum of two weeks as of January 13th. He is expected to return in time to compete at the Olympics and has recently returned to practice in a no-contact jersey for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although like Hedman, there is still the possibility he does not return in time but the recent reports suggest that he will.

Brodin, 32, has been a reliable shutdown defenceman throughout his entire career. He sustained a “lower-body injury” and has been out of the Minnesota Wild lineup since January 12th. According to the Athletic, he is confirmed to be out for the Olympics next month and will not return in time. Given the similarity in their styles, Ekholm would be an ideal replacement for Brodin.

Even one of these players not playing for Sweden opens the door for Ekholm to secure a spot on the backend. If more than that are not ready, it feels almost certain that he will be given a call. 

In 50 games this season, Ekholm has scored 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) while sporting a plus-15 rating and logging an average of 20:53 of time on ice. He plays important minutes for the Oilers and has garnered a reputation as one of the most poised and dependable defenceman in the NHL.