The Edmonton Oilers announced a contract extension for Mattias Ekholm on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old defenceman has inked a three-year, $12 million deal.
TSN's Ryan Rishaug notes that the deal comes with a full no-movement clause and the first year salary is $2 million plus a $2 million signing bonus.
10 Oilers signed through 2027-28
Signing Ekholm comes just two days after the Oilers signed star centre Connor McDavid to a surprising two-year, $25 million extension that kept his cap hit at $12.5 million. The Oilers signed defenceman Jake Walman to a seven-year, $49 million extension just hours after the McDavid deal was announced.
The team now has 10 players signed through at least the 2027-28 season, including Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugen-Hopkins, Trent Frederic, Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse.
The Oilers are looking to lean on that core to try to take the final step forward after falling to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past two seasons.
Rishaug reports the Oilers have also held extension talks with blueliner Brett Kulak, but nothing is imminent at this point. Of the eight defencemen of Edmonton's roster to start the season, Kulak and Troy Stecher are pending unrestricted free agents, while Ty Emberson and Alex Regula are signed through next year. The other four defencemen are all inked through at least 2028-29.
A native of Borlange, Sweden, Ekholm heads into his 15th NHL season and fourth with the Oilers.
He appeared in 65 games for the Oilers last season, scoring nine goals and adding 24 assists in 22:12 of ice time a night. He appeared in only seven playoff games in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Originally taken with the 102nd overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Ekholm spent the first 11-plus seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators. He was acquired by the Oilers in February of 2023 in a trade that saw a first-round pick and Tyson Barrie head back to Nashville.
For his career, Ekholm has 86 goals and 274 assists in 884 games, averaging 21:44 on ice a night.
Internationally, Ekholm has represented Sweden on a number of occasions. He was a member of the Tre Kronor team that won gold at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark.
The Oilers open up their 2025-2026 campaign later on Wednesday evening against the Calgary Flames.
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