Oilers ink Ekholm to 3-year extension with $4M AAV
The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year contract extension worth $4 million per season, the team announced Wednesday.
Ekholm, 35, was set to reach unrestricted free agency following this season but is now under contract through the 2028-29 campaign.
It's the third extension the Oilers have doled out this week after deals for captain Connor McDavid and blue-liner Jake Walman. Edmonton is currently projected to have approximately $18.3 million in remaining cap space for next season, according to PuckPedia.
Ekholm's served as Edmonton's top shutdown defender since being acquired from the Nashville Predators prior to the 2023 trade deadline.
He's averaged over 21 minutes per contest since joining the Oilers and contributed 81 points in 165 games.
Injuries limited Ekholm to 65 games last season and held him out of the playoffs until the Western Conference Final.
The Oilers begin their 2025-26 season Wednesday against the Calgary Flames.