Oilers Sign Mattias Ekholm To Multi-Year Deal

The Edmonton Oilers have signed another one of their players ahead of the 2025-26 season as Mattias Ekholm inks a deal for three years at $4 million AAV.

#Oilers announce an extension for defenseman Mattias Ekholm: 3 years x $4 million.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 8, 2025

Oilers insider Bob Stauffer spoke with Ekholm yesterday, and the veteran said he wants to stay in Oil Country. This team-friendly deal proves that, as the AAV is down for how much the cap is going up over the next few years. Ekholm plays a large part in the success of the Oilers and since being acquired from the Nashville Predators, he is a +83 and has logged 21:28 of ice time per game in 165 regular season games.

The veteran put up nine goals and 33 points in 65 games last season and has 24 goals and 92 points as an Oiler with 207 hits and 216 blocked shots. Ekholm also finished 12th in Norris trophy voting in his first full season with the Oilers.

Stauffer referenced Natural Stat Trick in noting that Ekholm and his defense partner, Evan Bouchard, have the second-best 5v5 xGF% (60.26) over the past three seasons from pairings that have played 500+ minutes.

Ekholm has also been a beast in the playoffs for the Oilers, now experiencing three runs, two of which went all the way to Game 6 or Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. He definitely left some money on the table, and that might have been due to Connor McDavid's contract, or he could have already been thinking that way. A top pairing defenseman, even a 35-year-old one that plays the minutes Ekholm does, should get much more on the market than he signed for. This is a great deal for the Oilers and the term lines up really well also.