Another Oilers Player In Line To Re-Sign Very Soon

The Edmonton Oilers are continuing to sign players they'd like to stick around and help win a Stanley Cup. There have already been extensions for Vasily Podkolzin, Connor McDavid, and Jake Walman, but next on the list of names is Mattias Ekholm.

Elliotte Friedman said, "I think next is going to be Ekholm...he badly wants to stay." But the term and money are still up in the air. The insider continued by saying, "I've gotten some mixed messages on this. I've had people tell me it's going to be short-term, and I've had others tell me it could be modeled on Chris Tanev's Toronto deal to spread out the cap hit."

Ekholm has one year left on his deal at a $6 million AAV cap hit for the Oilers, but is going to earn significantly less one way or the other as he's 35 years old. It appears as though he would like to win as well and his stats still provide evidence that the veteran is near the top of his game. That could fall off quickly if injuries or another factor plays a part, but the Tanev deal, which started last season, was a six-year term at $4.5 million AAV. That could work, but the Oilers would still likely like to get that even lower if he signs for that many years into his 40s.

Ekholm is still firmly in the first LD role for the Oilers alongside Evan Bouchard and Ekholm logged over 22 minutes per game and over two minutes per game on the penalty kill last season at 34 years old. With Walman's new contract starting next season and Bouchard and Darnell Nurse signed for at least the next four years, bringing back Ekholm would solidify the top-4 for the Oilers for the foreseeable future.

There is a projected $20 million for Edmonton to spend next summer. That is going to go into a top-6 winger, better goaltending, and bringing back a player like Ekholm. The Oilers are still in their window to win and Ekholm is still a part of the solution.