Connor McDavid isn’t the only star the Oilers need to lock down next summer. Veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm has made it clear he wants to stay in Edmonton, but he knows his place in line.
"Absolutely I want to stay in Edmonton, but I know you have to take care of the big boys first," Ekholm told Daily Faceoff’s Jason Gregor. "Once Connor gets signed, I’m sure we will talk."
The 35-year-old has been a rock for the Oilers’ defense since arriving. He logged an impressive 22:12 of ice time per game last season, just seconds behind Darnell Nurse‘s 22:22.
And he’s not just eating up minutes – he’s producing too.
Ekholm put up 33 points in 65 games last year, including nine goals. That’s his second-best scoring season since 2020, topped only by his 45-point campaign the year before.
What’s really impressive is how well he’s playing at this stage of his career. He’s still making plays in all three zones and showing no signs of slowing down.
But age will be a factor in his next deal. He’ll be 36 when his new contract kicks in, which will probably mean a shorter term and lower price than his current four-year, $25 million contract.
A two-year deal at around $3 million per season might be a good starting point for talks, though his strong play could push that number up a bit.
For now, Ekholm’s happy to wait his turn while the Oilers sort out McDavid’s mega-deal. After all, when you’re playing this well on a contending team, why would you want to leave?
