Mattias Ekholm Bio
Mattias Hans Ekholm (born 24 May 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 102nd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Ekholm developed his craft in Swedish hockey before establishing himself as one of the most reliable two-way defencemen in the NHL. Over his career, he has become known for his defensive positioning, physical presence, and ability to contribute offensively while logging heavy minutes against top opponents. Ekholm has represented Sweden internationally and reached the Stanley Cup Final twice with the Edmonton Oilers.
Early Life and Background
Mattias Ekholm was born on 24 May 1990 in Borlänge, Dalarna, Sweden. Growing up in Sweden, he developed his passion for hockey at a young age in the country’s strong youth hockey system. His early career path took him through Swedish junior and minor leagues, where his size and skating ability quickly distinguished him from his peers. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall even as a teenager, Ekholm possessed the physical tools that would later make him a formidable NHL defenceman.
Before turning professional, Ekholm honed his skills in Sweden’s competitive junior circuits. His development in the Swedish system provided him with a solid technical foundation, tactical awareness, and the two-way game that would define his professional career. The Swedish Elite League has a long tradition of producing NHL-ready talent, and Ekholm followed in the footsteps of many notable Swedish defencemen who made the jump to North America.
Path to NHL
Ekholm began his professional career with Mora IK in the Swedish second division, where he posted an impressive 7 goals and 5 assists in his first 14 games. His strong start attracted attention from NHL scouts who had already taken note of his potential during international tournaments. Following his breakout performance with Mora IK, Ekholm transferred to Brynäs IF for the 2010-11 season, where he continued to dominate offensively for a defenceman.
After recording 8 goals and 16 points in 40 regular-season games with Brynäs, Ekholm was named the first of four Elitserien Rookie of the Year candidates for the 2010-11 season. He ultimately won the award, recognizing him as the top rookie defenceman in the league. This accomplishment solidified his status as a legitimate NHL prospect and made the Predators’ 2009 draft selection of him look increasingly shrewd. The Predators had drafted him in the fourth round, 102nd overall, banking on his raw potential and size.
Mattias Ekholm Career
Nashville Predators (2011-2023)
Following the 2010-11 season, Ekholm signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators to begin the 2011-12 season. After attending their training camp, he was named to the Predators opening night roster for his North American debut. However, Ekholm served as a healthy scratch for the first five games before making his NHL debut in their home opener against the Phoenix Coyotes. He played just two games with the Predators before returning to Brynäs for the remainder of the season due to a predetermined agreement made during the summer.
Ekholm returned to the Predators for the 2012-13 season but was initially assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. By December, he was leading all Milwaukee defencemen in scoring with four goals and seven assists for 11 points. Due to injuries at the NHL level, Ekholm earned an emergency recall on 15 April 2013, logging 16:05 minutes of ice time during a game against the Vancouver Canucks before being reassigned to the Admirals the following day. He finished the season with 32 points through 59 games between both teams.
In the 2013-14 season, his second full year with the organization, Ekholm joined the Predators for the start of the campaign. He played on the Predators third line along with Seth Jones and Shea Weber, which gave him valuable experience alongside established NHL defencemen. 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 only six NHL defencemen to play at least 50 games while being assessed 10 or fewer penalty minutes.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2023-Present)
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. The trade marked the end of Ekholm’s 12-year tenure with the Predators organization. He made his Oilers debut on 1 March in a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs and scored his first goal as an Oiler on 11 March in another game against the Leafs.
In the 2023-24 season, his first full season with the Oilers, Ekholm posted career highs in goals, points, and plus-minus with 11 goals, 45 points, and a plus-44 rating. His plus-44 plus-minus ranked third-highest in the league that year. He finished 12th in Norris Trophy voting, which recognizes the NHL’s top defenceman. The season ended with his second career trip to the Stanley Cup Final, where the Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers in seven games.
Injuries shortened his 2024-25 season to 65 games, but he helped the Oilers return to the Stanley Cup Final for a second consecutive year. Edmonton faced the Florida Panthers again but lost in six games this time. 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, securing his future with the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ekholm is known as a steady, reliable two-way defenceman who excels in his own end while contributing meaningful offensive production. His 6-foot-5 frame allows him to win battles along the boards, protect the net front, and box out opposing forwards. He is respected for his hockey intelligence, defensive positioning, and ability to log heavy minutes against top competition. His calmness with the puck and ability to make outlet passes help transition his team from defence to offence efficiently.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ekholm made his Stanley Cup Final debut on 29 May 2017 with Nashville against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nashville fell to Pittsburgh in six games. He was named an alternate captain for the Predators on 19 September 2017, alongside Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg. On 26 January 2026, Ekholm scored his first career hat-trick in his 938th game, a 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 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 accomplishing the feat just two days prior.
Mattias Ekholm Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Ekholm has accumulated significant accomplishments at both the junior and professional levels in Sweden, as well as at the NHL level. His career includes individual awards, playoff appearances, and multiple Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Swedish Hockey Awards
Ekholm won the Elitserien Rookie of the Year award following the 2010-11 season with Brynäs IF. He also won the Borje Salming Award as the top defenceman in the Swedish Elite League during the same season, tallying eight goals and 16 points in 40 regular-season games. These accolades established him as one of Sweden’s top defensive prospects before his NHL debut.
NHL Highlights
Ekholm has appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals, first with Nashville in 2017 and then with Edmonton in both 2024 and 2025. While he has not won the Stanley Cup, reaching the championship round three times represents the pinnacle of his franchise accomplishments. He earned Norris Trophy recognition with a 12th-place finish in the 2023-24 season after posting career-high numbers.
Mattias Ekholm Family
Family Background
While detailed information about Ekholm’s parents is not extensively documented in public sources, his Swedish heritage and upbringing in Borlänge provided the foundation for his professional hockey career. He comes from a sports-oriented family that supported his development through Sweden’s youth hockey system.
Personal Life
Ekholm is married to Ida Björnstad, a former sports broadcaster. Together, they share three children. The family resides in Edmonton during the NHL season. His wife s background in sports broadcasting has given her an understanding of the demands of professional athletics. Despite his private approach to family life, Ekholm has occasionally shared glimpses of his family life with fans through social media.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season saw Ekholm battle through injuries that limited him to 65 games. Despite the injury setbacks, he remained a vital piece of the Oilers’ defensive core. His experience and leadership were crucial as Edmonton navigated a challenging regular season and then secured another playoff berth. The Oilers’ run to a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final demonstrated Ekholm’s importance to the team’s championship aspirations.
Ekholm’s plus-minus rating and defensive metrics remained strong when he was in the lineup, demonstrating his consistency as a reliable two-way defenceman. His ability to log minutes against top opponents and contribute on both ends of the ice made him a valuable asset for the Oilers coaching staff. The partnership between Ekholm and the Oilers’ other top defencemen created a formidable blue line that opposing teams struggled to solve.
Looking ahead, Ekholm’s long-term future with the Oilers appears secure following his three-year extension signed in October 2025. The contract extension through the 2028-29 season reflects the organization’s belief in his continued contributions. As Ekholm enters the later stages of his career, he remains focused on helping the Oilers capture their first Stanley Cup since 1990 while mentoring younger defencemen within the organization.