The Nashville Predators took care of a bit of personnel business on Monday, signing 25-year-old defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a six-year, $22.5 million contract extension. The deal carries an AAV of $3.75 million and will keep him in Nashville through the 2018-19 NHL season. He's currently playing under a two-year, $2.075 million bridge deal.
Ekholm, a fourth-round draft pick, has developed into a more than capable defender who perfectly fits the kind of offensive-minded mold that Predators coach Peter Laviolette covets.
"Everything, really," Laviolette said of Ekholm earlier in the season, per the team's website. "Defensively, he's solid. Offensively, he moves the puck well. He skates well, he contributes in the offensive zone, he helps out on the power play, penalty kill, and he's been a real strong player for us."
Entering a contract year in 2014-15, Ekholm led all Preds defensemen with a plus-282 shot-attempt differential. He's a fancy stat darling and has steadily increased his production every season he's been in the league, topping out last year at seven goals, 11 assists and a plus-12 last year. In 153-career NHL games he now has nine goals and 30 points.
Ekholm's also found what seems to be a permanent home in the Predators lineup alongside Ryan Ellis, a player Nashville locked up with a five-year deal last season. With Ekholm and Ellis signed and Roman Josi inked through 2019-20, the already strong Predators blueline looks even more robust and secure for the future.
The only defenseman the team has yet to lock up is Seth Jones, the former first-rounder, who is set to be a restricted free agent after the season. If Predators GM David Poille is able to come to terms with Jones, the Predators will boast a long-term defensive group that is likely already the envy of the entire league.
