Oilers Announce Contract Extension for Key Defenseman Mattias Ekholm
Just days after securing long-term deals for Connor McDavid and Jake Walman, the Edmonton Oilers have made another significant move — this time on the blue line.
On Wednesday, October 8, the team announced a three-year contract extension for veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm, worth $4 million annually, set to begin in the 2026–27 season.
Extension Was Expected
The extension comes as no surprise. In his first “32 Thoughts” column of the new season, Elliotte Friedman noted that Ekholm was likely next in line for a new deal and had expressed interest in staying in Edmonton. Friedman added that there were mixed signals at the time about whether the deal would be short-term or structured like Chris Tanev’s six-year extension with Toronto to ease the cap hit.
Ultimately, the Oilers opted for a mid-range term, locking in Ekholm through age 38.
Ekholm’s Role in Edmonton
Ekholm, 35, missed part of the 2024–25 season due to injury but was still a key contributor, posting 33 points in 65 games while averaging over 22 minutes of ice time per night. A steady presence on the back end, he’s been with the Oilers since being acquired from the Nashville Predators, who drafted him 102nd overall in 2009.
With this extension, Edmonton solidifies a core part of its defensive unit as it eyes continued contention in the years ahead.
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