Edmonton Oilers re-sign defenceman Mattias Ekholm to new contract

After the Oilers had finished up the deals for Connor McDavid and Jake Walman yesterday, reports surfaced that Ekholm was next to sign - and may even take a discount too. It didn't take long after that to seal the deal.

According to a new statement from the team, the Oilers have re-signed Ekholm to a 3 year contract with an annual salary of $4M.

Since his arrival to Edmonton in the 2022-23 season, Ekholm immediately improved the Oilers defence. He plays a perfect two-way game with a strong emphasis on quality defence, making him the perfect partner for Evan Bouchard. When the Oilers first D-pairing is one the ice with the first line, it creates an elite 5 man unit.

Turning 36 years old this season, giving Ekholm 3 years on the contract may be risky - but it certainly took his annual salary down. Ekholm is being paid $6.25M this season, and having him on the books next year at $4M will be a bargain.

Even though Ekholm did struggle after dealing with an injury through last season, analytics still profile him to be one of the most effective defenders in the NHL.

According to insiders, Ekholm does have a full no move clause through the course of the contract - which may make the end of the contract to be an issue.

Hopefully Ekholm's body can hold up over the next few years as he ages with this contract, but for the immediate future, this is a great deal for the Oilers. He's been a fan favourite ever since he joined the team, and it's great to have him around for longer.