Oilers Receive Mixed Injury Update on Mattias Ekholm Ahead of Playoffs as Team Balances Relief With Renewed Concern
The Edmonton Oilers, locked in a battle for postseason positioning and eager to build momentum heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, received a key update this week regarding veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm. As it turns out, the news is a mixed bag—a little good, a little bad, and a whole lot for the Oilers to digest as they prepare for a critical stretch of games.
Ekholm, who has been a steadying force on Edmonton’s blue line since his arrival via trade from the Nashville Predators in 2023, has been dealing with a lingering lower-body injury that recently forced him out of the lineup. At a time when stability on the back end is paramount, any uncertainty surrounding Ekholm’s availability raises understandable concern across Oil Country.
The good news is that Ekholm’s injury is not considered long-term. Team sources indicate that while he will need some short-term rest, the Oilers are optimistic about his ability to return to full strength before the start of the playoffs. The veteran has already resumed light skating and has been around the team at practices, albeit in a non-contact jersey. He’s been engaging in individual drills, showing signs of progress and encouraging medical staff and coaches alike.
This is a huge relief for an Oilers team that has come to rely heavily on Ekholm’s composure, experience, and two-way ability. Since joining Edmonton, the Swedish defenseman has brought balance to the team’s top-four defensive group and often serves as a safety valve for offensive-minded blue-liners like Evan Bouchard. His hockey IQ, positioning, and calm puck-moving have all helped transform Edmonton’s transition game and penalty kill, both of which were weaknesses prior to his arrival.
But with that good news comes a dose of reality. The bad news is that Ekholm is still not fully healthy, and with only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, there’s a growing likelihood he will miss additional time. Even if he returns before the playoffs begin, there is no guarantee he’ll be playing at 100 percent. Lower-body injuries are notoriously tricky for defensemen, especially ones like Ekholm who log heavy minutes against top opposition and are tasked with both defending and initiating offensive play.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch was cautiously optimistic when speaking to reporters. “Mattias is progressing,” Knoblauch said. “We’re happy with where he is compared to a few days ago, but we’re also not going to rush him back. We want him healthy for the games that matter most.”
That sentiment is echoed by teammates, who understand just how crucial Ekholm’s presence is in the dressing room and on the ice. “He’s such a big part of what we do,” said captain Connor McDavid. “You look at how calm he is under pressure and how he makes the smart play nine times out of ten—those are things you can’t teach. Obviously, we want him back, but only when he’s ready.”
The Oilers have experienced firsthand how much of a difference Ekholm can make. After acquiring him late in the 2022–23 season, Edmonton immediately saw its defensive structure tighten. Goaltending numbers improved, the team exited its own zone with greater efficiency, and the penalty kill—which had hovered near the bottom of the league—began to trend upward. Ekholm’s impact was both statistical and intangible. He brought poise to a group that sometimes played frantic, and he gave Knoblauch the flexibility to better balance defensive pairings.
Without Ekholm in the lineup, Edmonton’s defensive depth is being tested. The team has leaned more heavily on players like Darnell Nurse, Vincent Desharnais, and Cody Ceci, and while they’ve stepped up admirably, there’s no question the overall performance is different without Ekholm anchoring the blue line. Defensive zone coverage becomes a bit more chaotic, the puck doesn’t move as crisply up ice, and the top matchups become more physically and mentally taxing on others.
The situation has reignited discussion among Oilers fans and analysts alike regarding the team’s defensive depth. While Edmonton boasts high-end talent up front and a goaltending tandem that has shown flashes of brilliance, the blue line remains the area most scrutinized. Ekholm’s absence underscores how thin the margin is between contender and pretender when it comes to having experienced, reliable defensemen.
What complicates matters further is that the Oilers’ path through the Western Conference is likely to be a brutal one. Potential first-round matchups against physical, forechecking-heavy teams like the Los Angeles Kings or the Vancouver Canucks would make the presence of a fully healthy Ekholm even more vital. In those games, every battle behind the net, every zone clear, and every shorthanded shift could tilt the balance. And those are the very situations where Ekholm thrives.
The Oilers have responded to the uncertainty with a next-man-up mentality. Young players and depth defensemen are getting increased ice time, and the coaching staff has been using the final weeks of the regular season to evaluate potential playoff pairings. Still, nothing can quite replace what Ekholm brings when he’s at his best.
Compounding the issue is the emotional and leadership vacuum his absence creates. While McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins form the team’s leadership core, Ekholm is widely regarded as a calming locker room presence, someone who communicates effectively and raises the play of those around him. On a team often criticized for being too top-heavy, Ekholm represents the kind of connective tissue that holds everything together.
The timing of this injury is both frustrating and ironic for Oilers fans. Just as the team appears to be rounding into playoff form—with the power play humming, the penalty kill improving, and the goaltending duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard showing signs of stability—the loss of a crucial piece like Ekholm threatens to undercut that momentum.
From a broader perspective, the Ekholm injury also sheds light on just how important roster management and in-season acquisition strategy can be. It’s a reminder that even the most well-constructed teams are vulnerable when one piece goes down. Edmonton’s front office has done well to build around its stars, but questions remain as to whether the group has enough redundancy to survive the rigors of the postseason.
As for Ekholm himself, he remains focused on recovery. Those close to him describe him as frustrated by the timing but determined to return without compromising his effectiveness. Given his veteran status and playoff experience, the Oilers will likely defer to his judgment as he navigates this recovery. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Ekholm has been through playoff battles before—he knows his body, knows what it takes, and knows how to prepare himself both physically and mentally for the war of attrition that is the NHL postseason.
For now, the Oilers will keep skating forward, managing minutes, leaning on depth, and keeping their fingers crossed. The playoff road ahead is long, and while Edmonton remains a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, their chances of success increase significantly if No. 14 is back on the blue line, healthy and ready to play his best hockey when it matters most.
Injuries are an inevitable part of the NHL grind. For Edmonton, the challenge now is to make sure that this particular injury doesn’t define their season. They have the talent. They have the experience. And with a little luck—and a fully recovered Mattias Ekholm—they might just have the complete package needed to make a deep run.
But until he’s back in full gear, fully cleared, and back to anchoring the defense, the Oilers will be walking a tightrope between optimism and unease, between hope and worry, and between being a contender and merely a team with potential. Time will tell whether the good news on Ekholm outweighs the bad.
