Edmonton Oilers' Mattias Ekholm gives update in first media availability since injury
Mattias Ekholm is close to making his return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup, and he finally broke his silence on Monday morning.
The veteran defenceman has been out of the lineup since suffering an injury back in early April against the San Jose Sharks. The initial prognosis on the undisclosed injury was that Ekholm would miss significant time in the playoffs, but as the Oilers continue to find success, a return is looking more and more likely.
Ekholm is already back skating with the team at practice and is looking like a player who could get back into game action sooner rather than later. It’s unlikely that he will play in the first two games of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, but after that is anybody’s guess.
The Swedish defender met with reporters on Monday morning, where he gave his first in-person update of the playoffs.
“I feel good. I didn’t think I was going to be in this position this quick, so I’m really happy about that,” Ekholm said. “Healing has gone better than I thought, but still just trying to take it day by day.
“Today was the first time with the team on the ice in a full practice. Thought that went pretty well. Now it’s a matter of how do I feel tomorrow.”
"I didn't think I would be in this position this quick… Today was the first time with the team on the ice in a full practice. Now it's a matter of how do I feel tomorrow? I'm trying to be on a day-to-day basis."
Mattias Ekholm on his progress.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/5Z1VIu4dKy
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 19, 2025
Ekholm was not able to give any more insight on when he expects to draw back into the Oilers lineup. He is a massive piece of this team’s defensive core, and not having him in the lineup through the first two rounds was a massive loss for the Oilers.
Getting him back at some point in the Western Conference Final would be a huge advantage for Edmonton over the Stars. Even so, Ekholm has been watching his team from the press box and has liked what he’s seen from the Oilers’ current defensive formation.
“Amazing. I think they’ve done really, really well,” Ekholm said. “Playing fast, playing simple, moving pucks… I think our d-core has been sound.
“There is a lot of experience on that backend right now, so love the way they’re playing and hopefully they can keep it going.”
An important decision will have to be made if and when Ekholm is healthy enough to be re-inserted into the lineup. Until that happens, however, the Oilers will have to continue to find ways to thrive without him.