Top Oilers' player comments on whether he'll stay in Edmonton
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Edmonton's veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm spoke to the media during the team's captain's skates and commenting about his desire to remain an Oiler beyond the 2025-26 season, when his contract is set to expire.
When asked point blank about wanting to stay in Edmonton, the Swedish blueliner gave a direct reply.
"It's a contract year, but I'm also getting up there (age). Do I want to stay in Edmonton? Absolutely."
Of course, one of the concerns around Mattias is his full-recovery from the injury he sustained last year, which caused him to miss the last 17 games of the season, and the first three-rounds of the playoffs. He would join the Oilers in the post-season, but was he 100% ready to do so?
«How do you put a percentage on it?» Ekholm said. "It wasn't great. You're more out there to survive rather than create and play your game. The first couple of playoff games it (adductor) was good because you're so into it mentallybut after that, I wouldn't say you lose it, but it becomes more normal (hard work). It was definitely a challenge that I hadn't had in my career. Looking back, it was difficult, at times. Obviously skating is a big part of hockey. No excuses. I decided to play.»
The Oilers, of course, would go on to lose in the Finals for a second-straight year to the Florida Panthers, and one wonders if a healthy Mattias Ekholm might have made a difference. We won't know, of course, but truth is, he wasn't ready to make a return to the lineup.
«You don't skate for a month and a half and that's the biggest problem. You can take pills and injections so the pain is gone, but there's also a point of explosiveness (skating and making defensive plays, denying the blueline).»
All that is in the past, however, and his focus now is in on playing in Edmonton; but he also made a lighthearted comment about the Oilers' Captain.
«Do I want to stay in Edmonton? Absolutely. I guess there will be discussions but you're going to be talking to a guy in a few minutes who's the big focus. I've been around long enough in this league to know you take care of the big boys first,» said Ekholm, waiting for McDavid to talk to the media.
Mattias Ekhom's cap hit next year is $6.25M.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 6 | 448 ANSWERS Top Oilers' player comments on whether he'll stay in Edmonton Mattias Ekholm will be 36 years old when he becomes a UFA. Should the Oilers sign him again, given his age? | ||
| yes | 324 | 72.3 % |
| no | 124 | 27.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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