February 28, 2023 by Eric Friesen

The Edmonton Oilers officially acquired defenceman Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-round pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick on Tuesday.

Per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Predators will retain $250,000 of Ekholm’s $6.25 million cap hit. It was the second transaction of the day for the Oilers, as they dealt Jesse Puljujarvi to the Carolina Hurricanes for forward prospect Patrik Puistola, too, on Tuesday. The Puljujarvi trade opened up the necessary space to fit Ekholm under the cap.

Barrie played parts of three seasons (2020-2023) with the Oilers, tallying 25 goals and 132 points in 190 games. Schaefer was selected 32nd overall by the Oilers this past June. As it stands, the Oilers will head into the NHL Draft this off-season without a first-round pick for the first time since 2006.

Ekholm was selected by the Predators in the fourth-round (102nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from Mora IK of Allsvenskan. Ekholm played parts of two seasons (2008-2010) with Mora IK, notching three goals and 35 points in 79 career Allsvenskan games. He also played parts of three seasons (2008, 2010-2012) with Brynas IF, collecting 19 goals and 50 points in 97 career SHL games.

Ekholm spent most of the 2012-13 season with the Predators’ AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenceman has played with the Predators (2012-2023), tallying 62 goals and 268 points in 719 career NHL games. Ekholm helped the Predators reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. He had five goals and 18 points in 57 games with the Predators this season.

Related: Oilers Trade Deadline Options

Internationally, Ekholm has represented Sweden at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championship, 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (gold), 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship (bronze), 2014 (bronze), 2015, 2016, 2018 (gold) and 2019 IIHF World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The 32-year-old Borlange, Sweden native uses his long reach and and physicality to defend against the opposition’s top attackers. Ekholm also makes smart decisions with the puck and knows where his outlets are in his own zone.

Ekholm should help reduce Darnell Nurse’s heavy workload in the defensive zone, and be an effective penalty killer for the Oilers. The 12-year veteran will likely be paired with Evan Bouchard on Edmonton’s second pairing, who has struggled at both ends of the ice in his second full NHL season. Bouchard thrived alongside future Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Duncan Keith in 2021-22, and Oilers fans are surely hoping Ekholm’s tutelage can help Bouchard get his game back on track.

Ekholm is expected to make his Oilers debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Place on Wednesday.