Mattias Ekholm

Mattias Hans Ekholm (born 24 May 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fourth round, 102nd overall, of the 2009 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Predators.

Playing career While playing with Mora IK in Sweden, Ekholm was drafted in the fourth round, 102nd overall, by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Following the draft, he participated in Predators 2009 Development Camp. After recording a blazing start with 7 goals and 5 assists in his first 14 games with Brynäs, Ekholm was announced to be the first of four Elitserien Rookie of the Year candidates for the 2010–11 season. He would go on to win the award.

Nashville Predators

Following the 2010–11 season, Ekholm signed a three-year entry-level contract to play with the Predators for the 2011–12 season. After attending their training camp, Ekholm was named to the Predators opening night roster for his North America debut. However, Ekholm was a healthy scratch for the first five games of the 2011–12 season before making his debut in their home opener against the Phoenix Coyotes. He played two games with the Predators before returning to Brynäs for the remainder of the season. This was due to a predetermined deal Ekholm made with the Predators during the summer. Ekholm tallied one goal and one assists in his first six games back in Sweden. He continued to produce and won the Borje Salming Award as the top defenceman in the Swedish Elite League after talling eight goals and 16 points in 40 regular-season games.

Ekholm returned to the Predators for the 2012–13 season but was re-assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals on 12 September 2012. By December, Ekholm was leading all Milwaukee defencemen in scoring with four goals and seven assists for 11 points. He logged 16:05 minutes of ice time during a game against the Vancouver Canucks before being reassigned to the Admirals the following day. Ekholm ended the season with 32 points through 59 games.

In the second full year of his contract, Ekholm joined the Predators for the start of their 2013–14 season. He played on the Predators third line along with Seth Jones and Shea Weber. Ekholm scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 win over the San Jose Sharks on 7 January 2014. He finished the season with nine points through 62 games and was one of six NHL defencemen to play at least 50 games and be assessed 10 or fewer penalty minutes. As such, Ekholm signed a two-year, $2.075 million contract with the Predators as a restricted free agent.

In the first year of his new contract, Ekholm changed his jersey number to 14 to match his World Championship number. Ekholm set career-highs in goals, assists, and points during the season with seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points.

On 11 February 2021, Ekholm was listed as week to week with an undisclosed injury following a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On 13 October 2021, Ekholm signed a four-year, $25 million contract extension with the Predators with an annual average value of $6.25 million.

Edmonton Oilers During the 2022–23 season, on 28 February 2023, Ekholm and a 2023 sixth-round pick were traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2023 first-round draft pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick, defenceman Tyson Barrie and forward prospect Reid Schaefer. Ekholm made his Oilers debut on 1 March, a 5–2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first goal as an Oiler on 11 March, in another game against the Leafs, this time a 7–4 defeat.

In the 2023-24 season, his first full season with the Oilers, Ekholm put up a career high in goals, points, and plus-minus, with 11, 45, and +44. His +44 plus-minus was the third-highest in the league that year. He finished the season 12th in Norris Trophy voting. His season ended with his second career trip to the Stanley Cup Final, losing in seven games to the Florida Panthers.

Injuries shortened his 2024–25 season to 65 games. His season once again ended in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida, this time losing in six games.

On 8 October 2025, Ekholm signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Oilers that would go into effect during the 2026–27 season. On 26 January 2026, Ekholm scored his first hat-trick in his 938th career game, a 7–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. His three goals marked the first time in NHL history where a team had two different defencemen score a hat-trick in consecutive games, with Evan Bouchard scoring his first hat-trick just two days prior.

Personal life Ekholm is married to Ida Björnstad, a former sports broadcaster, and they share three children together.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2006–07 Mora IK J18 5 2 2 4 6 — — — — — 2006–07 Mora IK J20 36 0 4 4 28 2 0 0 0 0 2007–08 Mora IK J18 9 4 5 9 12 — — — — — 2007–08 Mora IK J20 37 5 7 12 54 — — — — — 2007–08 Mora IK SEL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2008–09 Mora IK J20 21 3 5 8 32 — — — — — 2008–09 Mora IK Allsv 38 2 11 13 12 3 0 0 0 4 2009–10 Mora IK Allsv 41 1 21 22 54 2 0 0 0 6 2010–11 Brynäs IF SEL 55 10 23 33 38 5 0 4 4 10 2011–12 Nashville Predators NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2011–12 Brynäs IF SEL 41 9 8 17 55 17 1 8 9 12 2012–13 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 59 10 22 32 30 4 0 1 1 0 2012–13 Nashville Predators NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 62 1 8 9 10 — — — — — 2014–15 Nashville Predators NHL 80 7 11 18 52 6 1 0 1 2 2015–16 Nashville Predators NHL 82 8 27 35 44 14 3 4 7 4 2016–17 Nashville Predators NHL 82 3 20 23 34 22 1 10 11 38 2017–18 Nashville Predators NHL 81 10 24 34 46 13 1 7 8 12 2018–19 Nashville Predators NHL 80 8 36 44 47 6 0 2 2 12 2019–20 Nashville Predators NHL 68 8 25 33 32 4 0 1 1 0 2020–21 Nashville Predators NHL 48 6 17 23 14 6 0 3 3 6 2021–22 Nashville Predators NHL 76 6 25 31 44 4 0 2 2 0 2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 57 5 13 18 24 — — — — — 2022–23 Edmonton Oilers NHL 21 4 10 14 4 12 1 6 7 8 2023–24 Edmonton Oilers NHL 79 11 34 45 47 25 5 5 10 6 2024–25 Edmonton Oilers NHL 65 9 24 33 30 7 1 5 6 14 2025–26 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 6 35 41 30 6 0 2 2 0 NHL totals 96692309401458 125134760102 SHL totals 9719315093 221121322

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2007 Sweden IH18 41122 2008 Sweden U18 4th 61012 2010 Sweden WJC 61016 2014 Sweden WC 10 2 5 7 8 2015 Sweden WC 5th 8 0 3 3 6 2016 Sweden WC 6th 2 1 0 1 2 2016 Sweden WCH 3rd 4 0 0 0 2 2018 Sweden WC 41232 2019 Sweden WC 5th 8 0 2 2 4 2025 Sweden 4NF 3rd 3 0 1 1 0 2026 Sweden WC 7th 8 3 2 5 0 Junior totals 1631410 Senior totals 477152224

Awards and honours Award Year Elitserien Rookie of the Year 2011 Le Mat Trophy champion 2012 Salming Trophy 2012 The Hockey News, Rod Langway Award 2018