Predators sign Mattias Ekholm to six-year contract

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that restricted free agent defenseman Mattias Ekholm has signed a six-year, $22.5 million contract that carries an average annual value of $3.75 million.

Ekholm, 25, has a goal and two assists in seven games in 2015-16, giving him 30 points and 66 penalty minutes in 152 career games since the 2011-12 season. In his second full NHL campaign in 2014-15, the Borlange, Sweden, native doubled his rookie point total, improved plus/minus rating by 20 points (plus-12 from minus-8) and increased his average ice time by more than two minutes (19:00 from 16:49). The 6-4, 215-pound blueliner also made his postseason debut last spring, suiting up for all six of Nashville's Stanley Cup Playoff contests, tying for the team lead in plus/minus rating (plus-4) and averaging 26:24 of ice time.

Nashville's seventh choice (102nd; fourth round) in the 2009 Entry Draft, Ekholm has represented Sweden in the past two World Championships, helping the Tre Kronor to a bronze medal in 2014, being named one of the nation's three best players after tying for second (with Predators teammate Roman Josi) among tournament defensemen in points, while leading all Swedish skaters in average ice time (21:56). He also earned a bronze medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship, tying for the tournament lead with a +10 rating, and helped the Tre Kronor win the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.