PuckSleuth
14Cap hit
$4M
3.8% of $104M cap
Term
3 yrs
Through 2028-29, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$3.408M
vs. $7.408M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
3
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
21:26
PP 0:06 · PK 2:23
Plus/minus
+6
Hits
4
Blocks 2
PIM
10
Game Score
+0.33
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 vs SEA · W 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 22:41 | 0:00 | 2:27 | — | 50 | 2 | 0 | +1 | +0.07 |
| Oct 1 @ VAN · W 9-7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20:42 | 0:19 | 3:06 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | +3 | +0.33 |
| Sep 29 vs VAN · OTL 6-5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 20:56 | 0:00 | 1:36 | — | 50 | 4 | 0 | +2 | +0.60 |
| Apr 30 @ ANA · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 16:22 | 0:00 | 0:07 | — | 100 | 2 | 0 | -1 | -0.10 |
| Apr 28 vs ANA · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 17:12 | 0:42 | 0:00 | — | 20 | 1 | 0 | +2 | +0.71 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,419 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
97th percentile
99th percentile
87th percentile
94th percentile
99th percentile
93rd percentile
79th percentile
90th percentile
89th percentile
83rd percentile
11th percentile
70th percentile
41st percentile
86th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleTwo-way offensive defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Ekholm generates offense through high-volume shooting and crisp passing, anchoring play in the offensive zone with strong underlying metrics. His game loses some edge in puck possession and transition play, relying on positioning over physicality or speed.
- Shooting volume
- 79
- Playmaking
- 79
- Zone entries(est.)
- 47
- Forechecking
- 60
- Physicality
- 47
- Defensive impact
- 60
- Puck management
- 24
- Speed
- 53
Where he shoots from
Slot 16% · Mid-range 26% · Perimeter 58%(205 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Shoots frequently and effectively from distance, 79th percentile in volume
- Sets up plays consistently with playmaking at 79th percentile
- Solid defensive presence and forechecking awareness at 60th percentile
Watch-outs
- Puck management at 24th percentile indicates occasional turnovers under pressure
- Rush chances slightly below average at 47th percentile, limiting transition speed
- Physicality in the 40s shows he avoids the physical game
Similar style: Jeff Petry, Oliver Ekman-Larsson (TOR)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | Nashville Predators | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 12:25 | — | — |
| 2012-13 | Nashville Predators | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 16:05 | — | — |
| 2013-14 | Nashville Predators | 62 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 1.7 | 16:49 | — | — |
| 2014-15 | Nashville Predators | 80 | 7 | 11 | 18 | +12 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 8.1 | 19:01 | — | — |
| 2015-16 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 8 | 27 | 35 | +14 | 44 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 114 | 7.0 | 20:15 | — | — |
| 2016-17 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 3 | 20 | 23 | +4 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 2.5 | 23:28 | — | — |
| 2017-18 | Nashville Predators | 81 | 10 | 24 | 34 | +25 | 46 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 135 | 7.4 | 23:35 | — | — |
| 2018-19 | Nashville Predators | 80 | 8 | 36 | 44 | +27 | 47 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 146 | 5.5 | 23:22 | — | — |
| 2019-20 | Nashville Predators | 68 | 8 | 25 | 33 | -1 | 32 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 154 | 5.2 | 23:22 | — | — |
| 2020-21 | Nashville Predators | 48 | 6 | 17 | 23 | +19 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 110 | 5.5 | 22:52 | — | — |
| 2021-22 | Nashville Predators | 76 | 6 | 25 | 31 | +14 | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 145 | 4.1 | 23:29 | — | — |
| 2022-23 | Nashville Predators | 57 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 5.1 | 21:44 | — | +0.54 |
| 2022-23 | Edmonton Oilers | 21 | 4 | 10 | 14 | +28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 11.1 | 20:47 | — | +0.54 |
| 2023-24 | Edmonton Oilers | 79 | 11 | 34 | 45 | +44 | 47 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 177 | 6.2 | 21:03 | — | +0.75 |
| 2024-25 | Edmonton Oilers | 65 | 9 | 24 | 33 | +11 | 30 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 6.3 | 22:12 | — | +0.55 |
| 2025-26 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 6 | 35 | 41 | +32 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 131 | 4.6 | 20:36 | — | +0.50 |
| 2026-27 | Edmonton Oilers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 21:26 | — | +0.33 |
| Career | 16 seasons | 969 | 92 | 309 | 401 | +225 | 468 | 14 | 58 | 4 | 20 | 1657 | 5.6 | 21:39 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Evan Bouchard begins Oilers training camp with a new partner
oilonwhyte.com · Sep 18
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.38 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.50 per game
2025-26 · 82 GP
Season total +40.7, or +0.50 per game.
- Scoring
- +26.3
- Shooting
- +9.8
- 5-on-5 goals
- +2.5
- Defense
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- -0.6
- Physical play
- +7.5
- Puck battles
- -3.8
- Penalties
- -1.1
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.5 mph
- 42nd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 74.3 mph
- 33rd pct
- Distance
- 3.1 mi
- OZ time
- 49.2%
- 94th pct
- DZ time
- 31.2%
Usage
Last game: vs SEA, Oct 3
Pair 1 with Evan Bouchard (12:51 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 36: 62% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 36, defensemen typically produce 62% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 38, when the typical level is 55%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
3 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | EDM | $4M | 3.8% |
| 2027-28 | EDM | $4M | 3.5% |
| 2028-29 | EDM | $4M | — |
UFA after 2028-29. $12M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).