Revisiting The Mattias Ekholm Trade To Edmonton

Revisiting The Mattias Ekholm Trade

When Mattias Ekholm moved to the Edmonton Oilers, many considered it a major deal. The trade ahead of the 2023 deadline addressed a major need on the blue line with a proven playoff performer. The Oilers are not a perfect team but Ken Holland had a big move up his sleeve and pulled it off with bringing the veteran defenseman into the fold. With Ekholm and his team now in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, it’s time to see how everything panned out for both sides.

Nashville Continues Building Their Stockpile

The pretext for Barry Trotz’s job in the Preds’ front office is in large part due to this trade. The days of their 2017 Western Conference Champion squad are long gone. A lot of big pieces have been shipped out as they are looking for a new identity. In the process, Nashville has picked up a ton of cap flexibility and assets. This trade was no exception. With Ekholm under contract until 2026, Holland paid a premium for a good player with term. They parted ways with Reid Schaefer, a 2022 first-round pick who is still a few years out from the NHL. Furthermore, they gave up their 2023 first-rounder, which Barry Trotz used to draft defenseman Tanner Molendyk 24th overall.

Yes, Nashville is in a weird in-between spot as they still have really good players. However, it never hurts to add to the farm in case things blow up. We do know that they’re not afraid to keep shaking up the defense corps. Look no further than the Ryan McDonagh trade. On the flip side, the team could improve after making the playoffs or young guns surprise us. If that’s the case, there is a lot of draft picks over there to add more guys. They don’t have Connor McDavid so the type of window they are operating in is completely different from their trading partner.

For Edmonton, This Is A Trade To Look Back On

Should they be able to win a Stanley Cup (now or within the next few years), this is one of the major factors why that is. Ekholm has thrived on the Edmonton blueline and changed his style to fit in like a glove in a hand. 2023-2024 saw the 34-year-old put up career highs in both points (45) and plus/minus (+44). In particular, his defensive acumen allowed for Evan Bouchard to develop and turn into an elite defenseman. He was a point-per-game player in the regular season and the pair has turned into one of the best in the NHL. After putting up 15 points in 12 playoff games last year, Bouchard is now arguably a Top-Five blueliner who will command a hefty raise once his bridge deal expires next Summer.

This is unrelated but there was obvious upside from this deal very early on. Hockey Guy Trey could have told you that months ago from a fantasy perspective but there is a lot of positive impacts that came about on the ice. The playoffs have shown us how much this team relies on their top guys. Replacing Jay Woodcroft with Kris Knoblauch is also a great decision in hindsight but that’s obvious. This is a team that wants it really bad. Look no further than all of the heartbreak they’ve felt in recent years. Of course, the job is not done but they deserve to be there and will definitely not go down without a fight.

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The trade between Edmonton and Nashville for Mattias Ekholm is one of the more significant deals you will find within the past few years. It solidified the direction for both teams and is one of the reasons you now see the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.

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