Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch offers tragic injury news on Mattias Ekholm

The Edmonton Oilers’ ambitions of hoisting the Stanley Cup this season suffered a devastating blow when head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed that veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm would miss the entire first round of the playoffs due to a serious injury. The news cast a dark cloud over the Oilers’ locker room and reshaped the dynamics of their postseason run before the puck had even dropped.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. The Oilers, having made strides late in the regular season and looked like true contenders in the West, were counting on Ekholm’s veteran leadership, defensive stability, and postseason experience. Losing him now – just as the team prepared to face the always-dangerous Los Angeles Kings – is more than a personnel issue. It’s a gut punch.

Ekholm, who turns 35 later this year, is more than just a talented blueliner. Since arriving in Edmonton via a trade from Nashville in 2023, he’s become the defensive backbone of the team. Whether it’s neutralizing top opposition scorers, logging tough minutes on the penalty kill, or stepping up in big moments, Ekholm has been indispensable.

“He’s a warrior,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said during a somber media session at Rogers Place. “He’s been playing through pain for a while now. We were hopeful he could manage it for the playoffs, but after what happened in San Jose, it became clear he needed time. Unfortunately, that means he’s out for the entire first round, at least.”

The injury, described only as “significant and lingering,” apparently worsened during the April 11 game against the Sharks, where Ekholm lasted just three shifts and didn’t return. He was seen leaving the bench grimacing and headed straight to the locker room. According to sources close to the team, Ekholm had already been battling through pain for weeks, but the situation escalated quickly.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “He’s a huge part of this team. What he brings — you can’t replace it with one guy. We’ve all got to elevate our games now.”

Mattias Ekholm’s style of play has always embodied grit, responsibility, and composure. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he’s a physical presence in front of the net, but what sets him apart is his hockey IQ. His ability to read the play, break up rushes, and transition the puck smoothly is something few defenders in the NHL can match.

Despite missing several games earlier this season due to what was initially labeled a “nagging lower-body issue,” Ekholm managed to play 65 games, tallying 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) with a plus-minus of +17. But it wasn’t just the numbers. It was how he anchored the second pairing and stabilized the backend during crucial stretches.

“When you look at our team post-deadline last season, the difference in our defensive game was night and day,” said general manager Ken Holland. “A big reason was Ekholm. We acquired him for situations exactly like this — to be a difference-maker in playoff hockey. It’s incredibly unfortunate that we have to start our run without him.”

The Oilers’ defense will now face a severe test. While Darnell Nurse remains the top option on the blue line and Evan Bouchard has emerged as a reliable offensive weapon, Ekholm’s absence reshuffles the pairings significantly. Jake Walman, acquired from Detroit in February, will likely slot into a top-four role alongside Cody Ceci or Philip Broberg, but none bring the same blend of physicality and poise that Ekholm does.

Assistant coach Paul Coffey, who oversees the defensemen, acknowledged the complexity of the adjustment.

“Mattias covers up a lot of mistakes just by how well he reads the game,” Coffey said. “Now it’s going to be about simplifying. Playing direct. Everyone has to stick to their role and avoid trying to be Ekholm. That’s a trap.”

The Oilers’ depth on defense had already been tested this season, with injuries to Brett Kulak and the underperformance of some younger players forcing constant line juggling. Ekholm was the calming presence throughout it all — the player who allowed others to play freer. Now, that safety net is gone.

More than anything, Ekholm’s loss will be felt emotionally. Inside the locker room, he is seen as a leader. A bridge between the veterans and younger players. A calming voice when things get tense.

“He’s always the guy reminding everyone to breathe,” said forward Zach Hyman. “When you’ve got the crowd going nuts and you’re hemmed in your own zone, he’s the one who says, ‘Just make the next smart play.’ There aren’t a lot of guys like that.”

Knoblauch echoed those sentiments, noting that Ekholm had been instrumental in helping the coaching staff implement systems when Knoblauch took over mid-season.

“Mattias understands the game like a coach,” he said. “He’s been a huge help in translating our message to the group.”

Kris Knoblauch isn’t known for showing a ton of emotion at the podium, but during the press conference announcing Ekholm’s injury, his voice cracked more than once.

“You hate this part of the job,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than telling a player — a proud player — that he won’t be going to battle with the group.”

He added, “We still believe in our group. This team is resilient. But there’s no sugarcoating it. This hurts.”

The playoff matchup with the Kings is already a tightly contested one. In recent years, Edmonton and L.A. have developed a quiet rivalry, often playing each other tough. The Kings’ forecheck, combined with the offensive prowess of players like Kevin Fiala, Anze Kopitar, and Adrian Kempe, poses a real threat — especially against a weakened Oilers backend.

“L.A. likes to get in deep, grind out possessions, and make you pay for mistakes,” said analyst Ray Ferraro. “Without Ekholm, those second and third clearing attempts become much harder.”

But some within the Oilers organization see this as an opportunity for younger players like Broberg and Vincent Desharnais to step up.

“You don’t win in the playoffs with just your stars,” said Holland. “You win with your depth.”

The loss stings even more when you consider Ekholm’s playoff pedigree. In 90 career postseason games, mostly with Nashville, he’s recorded 37 points and played a pivotal role in the Predators’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. He’s battle-tested, clutch, and thrives in high-pressure scenarios.

“He plays playoff hockey in the regular season,” said NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp. “That’s how he’s built.”

For an Edmonton team still searching for its first Cup since 1990, players like Ekholm are essential. His loss doesn’t just lower their ceiling — it shifts their entire identity on the backend.

The big question now becomes: can the Oilers survive the first round without Ekholm?

History says it’s possible. The Oilers still boast two of the best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Their top power play remains lethal. Stuart Skinner, while inexperienced, has shown flashes of brilliance. And the team is far more structured under Knoblauch than it was in the early part of the season.

But it will take a Herculean effort — and near-perfect execution — to compensate for the absence of their top defensive stalwart.

“They’ll need their forwards to help out more defensively,” said Ferraro. “Guys like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, and Hyman have to be smart on the backcheck. Every inch of ice matters now.”

The long-term outlook for Ekholm remains uncertain. Knoblauch refused to speculate on whether Ekholm could return in the second round if the Oilers advance. However, sources close to the team suggest that his injury might require offseason surgery, regardless of how far the Oilers go.

“He’s going to do everything he can to be back,” Knoblauch said. “That’s who he is. But we also have to think long-term. His health comes first.”

Ekholm is under contract through the 2025-26 season, and at his best, he remains one of the most effective two-way defensemen in the league. But injuries have begun to pile up, and Edmonton must now begin thinking about contingency plans in case his durability continues to decline.

Mattias Ekholm’s injury is more than just a lineup change. It’s a reminder of how fragile playoff dreams can be. One moment, you have your core intact and aspirations running high. The next, you’re scrambling to find answers and hoping your depth can rise to the moment.

For the Oilers, the road to the Stanley Cup just got a whole lot tougher. But if there’s one thing this team has shown under Kris Knoblauch, it’s resilience. They’ve already weathered coaching changes, early-season slumps, and mounting pressure. Now, they must rally without one of their best — and most beloved — players.

In the end, it may come down to heart, effort, and the intangible force that playoff hockey is known for. And even from the press box or training room, Mattias Ekholm will undoubtedly be part of that fight.