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Trade Grades: Mattias Ekholm is an Edmonton Oiler

Griffin Crest / NHL / March 2, 2023

Trade Grades: Mattias Ekholm is an Edmonton Oiler

The Oilers finally get the much-needed help on the blue line. Mattias Ekholm joins the Oilers, but on a hefty price that Ken Holland gave up, though it’s worth it. The veteran defenseman teams up with the best one-two punch in the NHL: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Ekholm was acquired by the Oilers via trade. He has left Nashville during the midst of their rebuilding stage after a 12-year tenure with the Predators.

Edmonton Oilers acquire Mattias Ekholm and a sixth-round pick

Grade: A-

Giving up so much for Ekholm was the only thing that dragged down the Oiler’s grade from an A. Giving up Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick is a lot, but the Oilers needed a defenseman badly!

They didn’t need another offensive defenseman in Barrie. They already have the best player on this planet. Edmonton needed a big defenseman like Ekholm that doesn’t give up the puck in the defensive zone and that’s exactly what they got. I know a lot of people are freaking out about Barrie and a first-round pick to Nashville, but they have to with Barrie’s cap hit.

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Nashville Predators acquire Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a first-round pick, and a fourth-rounder

Grade: B+

For only giving up Ekholm and a sixth-round pick, I gotta say, this is a pretty fair deal for the Predators. Barrie does have a big contract, but from where the Predators are at in their rebuild, they can take it on.

The Predators also got a first-round pick out of this. Now, the pick might not be great, but it still is a first rounder.

Schaefer is an enticing prospect for Nashville as his numbers keep climbing in the WHL. For the future, if he continues to develop in the right direction, the 19-year-old can be a core piece of the Predators’ future.

Nashville lost this trade in the current day, but they aren’t built to win now. They have been dumping all of their players like Tanner Jeannot and Nino Niederreiter. I gotta give the Predators a B+ for the haul they got for Ekholm; they aren’t ready to win as of right now, but for the future this is a good deal.