After locking down their captain for two years and ramping up the urgency to win a Stanley Cup, the Edmonton Oilers took care of another piece of business on Wednesday.
The Oilers signed defenceman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year, $12 million contract extension set to take effect in the 2026-27 season, the team announced.
Ekholm has been an important piece of the Oilers' blue line since arriving in Edmonton at the 2023 trade deadline. In 165 games with the club, Ekholm has 24 goals, 92 points and is plus-83. Through two full seasons in Edmonton, he's also registered 188 shot blocks.
The 35-year-old was acquired by the Oilers on Feb. 28, 2023, from the Nashville Predators in exchange for picks, defenceman Tyson Barrie and prospect Reid Schaefer.
Ever since, he's averaged more than 22 minutes per game and ranked among Edmonton’s leaders in penalty-kill ice time.
Ekholm has 360 points in nearly 900 career NHL games and has appeared in three Stanley Cup finals.
The signing is the latest in a string of deals by the Oilers, starting with Connor McDavid. The team also locked down defenceman Jake Walman to a seven-year deal on Monday.
--with files from The Canadian Press
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