BLOG: Ekholm ready to embrace Oilers experience

EDMONTON, AB – Mattias Ekholm is ready to take on a similar challenge, just in a new uniform, following his Tuesday acquisition by the Edmonton Oilers.

“First and foremost, I’m just super excited to come there,” Ekholm said in a virtual media conference on Tuesday night. “(My family and I) have had a great 12 years in Nashville, I’ve had two of my kids here and everything has been awesome, but for me to take the next step where I’m at in my career, I feel like Edmonton is a great fit. And yeah, again, just super excited and happy to get going.”

The former NHL All-Star was acquired alongside a 2024 sixth-round pick on Tuesday afternoon in a deal with the Nashville Predators that saw Tyson Barrie, last year’s first-round pick Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 fourth round pick go the other way. Ekholm is taking in the new experience as he prepares to fly to Edmonton on Wednesday morning, aiming to suit up in the night’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I think when you’ve been in the league for twelve years almost, you feel like you’ve been through it all, seen it all, but clearly I haven’t because I haven’t been traded before,” he said. “There is a lot of new stuff going on right now, but my initial thought is obviously super excited for the future here. I know Edmonton is one of the top teams in the league, obviously has some top offensive skill on their team, if not the best — and for me to come in and join, hopefully I can contribute with my way and my style on the defensive side of things.”

Video: RAW | Mattias Ekholm 02.28.23

The defensive side of the game is where Ekholm can make the biggest impact for the NHL’s highest-scoring team The Oilers currently pace the league with 232 goals scored, while Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 50 of his own, but they currently rank 22nd in the league in goals conceded.

Luckily for the Oilers, suppressing opponent’s offence is Ekholm’s specialty. The former Predators defenceman lead all Nashville blueliners in xGF% (expected goals for percentage) at 54.68 per cent, as well as the best FF% (unblocked shot attempts for percentage) at 52.26 per cent at 5-on-5 according to Natural Stat Trick.

“I’m just going to come in and be myself, trying to work as hard as I can and contribute to a team that… seems to just need to get that little extra push over the edge, because they obviously have one of the greatest talents on the planet,” Ekholm said.

In order to make room for Ekholm, the Oilers made a deal earlier in the day to move Jesse Puljujarvi and his 3-million-dollar cap hit to Carolina in exchange for Finnish forward prospect Patrik Puistola. Oilers General Manager & President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland was also forced to deal power-play stalwart Tyson Barrie and his 43 points (10G, 33A) in 61 games to accommodate the deal.

With such a high cost of acquisition, the expectations around Ekholm are that he can be a major contributor towards an Oilers Stanley Cup run – and the 32-year-old certainly has the pedigree.

Video: RAW | Ken Holland 02.28.23

Ekholm has been a large component of the Predators sustained success over the last decade, having reached the NHL Playoffs in each of the last eight seasons, including a trip to the Stanley Cup final in 2016-17. During that period, the steady Swede has averaged 24:35 of ice time in his 75 games of post-season experience.

“I’ve been in the playoffs for eight straight years and think that (Nashville) have had some decent success. We haven’t, obviously come to the ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup, but we were pretty close in 2017, “Ekholm said. “I think I have a pretty good sense of what it takes to shut guys down in the playoffs and that’s probably why I’m sitting here today. They acquired me for my defence and for my defensive side of the puck. So, I’m trying to contribute the way I’ve played the game and have been for the last decade in this league.”

Hockey’s ultimate prize is what is driving Ekholm, and it’s why he is so excited to join a team that was a round away from competing from the Stanley Cup last season. Armed with the world’s best player having the season of his career and a strong supporting cast, Ekholm sees the potential for greatness in this group.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. It’s honestly the biggest chance of my career to (win) a Stanley Cup ring,” he said. “To come to a team like this that obviously has the expectations of winning, and that’s all I’m really focused on right now. I think I’m a pretty good team guy that puts the team first. I don’t really care about the goals and the assists or who gets them.”

“All I can promise you I’ll do my best and do my all for the team to win,” Ekholm added. “I’m a team first guy, and that really is the only thing that matters to me.”