Edmonton Oilers do tidy piece of business with new Ekholm contract
The Edmonton Oilers are continuing a busy week of contract signings.
On Wednesday morning, the team announced that defenceman Mattias Ekholm would be sticking around on a three-year contract extension, worth $4 million per season.
He was set to be a free agent after this season.
Ekholm had previously spoken of his desire to stick around in Edmonton long-term, before the team signed Connor McDavid.
“Do I want to stay in Edmonton? Absolutely,” Ekholm said last month. “I’m sure there will be discussions about it. You guys are going to talk to a guy [McDavid] in a couple minutes that is the focus right now, and I get that part. I’ve been in the league long enough to know that you take care of the big boys first.”
Ekholm is the team’s third contract of the week, after they’d landed McDavid and Jake Walman on new deals as well.
What was up with Ekholm during last year’s playoffs with the Oilers?
Ekholm revealed prior to training camp that he was dealing with a “tough injury” during last year’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.
“I had a torn adductor,” Ekholm said. “That’s usually a tough injury when you’re trying to skate. It is what it is.”
Ekholm only suited up for seven of the Oilers’ contests this past spring.
“It was definitely a challenge that I’ve never had before in my career. Looking back on it, it was difficult at times. Skating is a big part of hockey. It was hard, but no excuse to it, I decided to play.”
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