Mattias Ekholm signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $4 million and begins next season.
The 35-year-old defenseman had 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in 65 regular-season games with Edmonton last season and six points (one goal, five assists) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. He is entering the last of a four-year, $25 million contract ($6.25 million AAV) and could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
"Going into the summer, I knew I had one year left and it's always nice to get it done before the season starts," Ekholm said. "It was maybe at the last hour, but we're happy it got done and we're happy to stay in Edmonton. There wasn't any question marks, to be honest. We just wanted to find a fair number and we definitely wanted to stay.
"I want to retire in Edmonton. That's the whole goal. That's the purpose of this deal. We'll see if at 39 I have another year in me, but I'll start with this and see where it goes."
Selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (No. 102) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Ekholm has 360 points (86 goals, 274 assists) in 884 regular-season games with Nashville and Edmonton and 58 points (13 goals, 45 assists) in 119 playoff games.
"He plays against other team's top lines," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "He's part of some power plays, he's outstanding on the penalty kill, plays on our top pair, so for that side of it, a lot of respect. But also in the dressing room, guys have so much respect for him, because he's a pretty honest player. He'll call out guys when they're not playing at their best and he's a pretty good leader. I think we have a lot of those guys, but I think 'Ekky' is one of those guys that carries a little more weight for those that actually don't wear letters."
On Monday, Edmonton signed captain Connor McDavid to a two-year, $25 million contract ($12.5 million AAV) and defenseman Jake Walman to a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million AAV).
The Oilers begin their regular season against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1).
"He's a huge part of our team as a leader as well, around the room, around the guys just in general, his positive attitude, how hard he works and the game that he plays," Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner said of Ekholm. "He's just a huge team player and he deserves all that he's getting."
NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report
