Edmonton Oilers sign defenceman to three-year, $12-million extension

The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year, US$12-million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

Ekholm will count $4 million against the league’s salary cap through the 2028-29 NHL season. His deal comes two days after the Oilers locked up defenceman Jake Walman for seven years and $49 million and captain Connor McDavid for two seasons and $25 million.

Ekholm, 35, recorded nine goals and 24 assists in 65 games last season and returned from a torn adductor muscle to post a goal and five assists in seven playoff games.

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He averaged more than 22 minutes per game and ranked among Edmonton’s leaders in penalty-kill ice time.

Acquired from Nashville late in the 2022-23 season, the Swedish blueliner has 92 points and a plus-83 rating in 165 games with the Oilers.

He has 360 points in nearly 900 career NHL games and has appeared in three Stanley Cup finals.

1:53 McDavid and Walman sign extensions with Edmonton Oilers