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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
We all love top Oilers d-man, but a contract extension for him? Hmm
We all love Mattias Ekholm, veteran defenceman and hockey hero of the Edmonton Oilers, the king of the north, the Viking of the blueline. He's a top Oilers d-man for sure. In fact, at times in the past few seasons he's been Edmonton's best d-man. That said, as a fan of the team before I'm a fan of any one player, I can't say I love the idea of Edmonton extending Ekholm's contract just now. I hadn't been thinking it was a possibility but this week on Oilers Now, Edmonton's top NHL insider Bob Stauffer, the team's master of whisperers, shared this nugget: 'It wouldn't surprise me if the Oilers extended Matthias Ekholm, maybe even this summer.'' When Stauffer mentioned it, the ideas sounded OK enough, mainly because I'm like almost all of the rest of you: I admire Ekholm both as an individual and as a player. Acquiring him from Nashville was one of the two or three best moves former GM Ken Holland made with the Oilers, that and signing Zach Hyman and giving second chances to players like Evander Kane and Corey Perry, even as other NHL teams were too cautious and/or sanctimonious to consider the same. Ekholm has been a stalwart since his arrival in Edmonton, teaming up with Evan Bouchard on the team's top-pairing to help lead the squad to two Stanley Cup Finals. But time and injury aren't the friends of a single NHL player. Time and injury catch up to all of them. We got a taste of that with Ekholm this season. He played as well as ever in the first half of the season, but after a series of core injury issues, his game wasn't the same. After a rough stretch of games where he leaked Grade A shots against, he was out for weeks in the final part of the season. When he came back in the playoffs, he was OK in general, but iffy in key moments, especially against Florida as the series went along. Ekholm wasn't alone in playing marginal hockey as that series unfolded, but he wasn't the exception to the general rule either. When I first heard Stauffer's musing about Ekholm maybe getting a contract extension this summer — he's got one year left on a deal that pays him $6.25 million this year — my first thought was that the Oilers had best wait to see how Ekholm recovers and performs this year before committing to the player. That notion has only been reinforced after looking at how other players aged 36 and up did in the NHL this past season. This past year, Ekholm was 34 and, when healthy, played at a peak or near peak level. Next year in the final year of his deal, we can't be sure how he'll play at age 35. But in 2026-27, the first year of any new deal he might sign, he'll be 36, and what we can say with certainty is it's rare for 36-year-old d-men to play strong two-way hockey at the NHL level. Most of them at that age have been so slowed by age and injury that they've retired. Only two or three still play top level hockey. In 2024-25, there were just eight 35-year-old d-men in the NHL. Of those, just two, Chris Tanev and Ryan McDonagh, played at full season at near peak levels of play. Two others, Jared Spurgeon and Drew Doughty, played well but were out with injury much of the year. The others — Luke Schenn, Brendan Smith, Ian Cole and Robert Bortuzzo — were OK-to-iffy. As mentioned, Ekholm will be 35 next year. One hopes he can be like Tanev or McDonagh and thrive all year as a two-way player. But the odds start to work against him now in the final year of his contract. If he were to sign a new deal, it would be for when he's 36 and possibly older, if the Oilers gave him term. Just eight d-men 36-years and older played in the NHL last year and just two of them, Brent Burns and Kris Letang, were Top 4 d-men on their teams. The odds start to get daunting if you're counting on a 36-year-old d-man to play solid two-way hockey in a Top 4 role. Of course Ekholm is an individual. He's a remarkable player and person. Perhaps he can't defy those odds. But no player is a good bet to do so, even as some few pull it off. If the Oilers were to extend him, I'd compare him to Jeff Petry, 37 last season, signing with Florida, another top team with major salary cap issues. Petry signed a deal for $775,000, with performance bonus money of $250,000. That's the kind of sober bet a top team with Stanley Cup aspirations makes on d-men over the age of 35. Now if Ekholm were to crush it this year as a two-way player that equation might change, but not until then.
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
We all love top Oilers d-man, but a contract extension for him? Hmm
Article content We all love Mattias Ekholm, veteran defenceman and hockey hero of the Edmonton Oilers, the king of the north, the Viking of the blueline. Article content He's a top Oilers d-man for sure. In fact, at times in the past few seasons he's been Edmonton's best d-man. Article content That said, as a fan of the team before I'm a fan of any one player, I can't say I love the idea of Edmonton extending Ekholm's contract just now. I hadn't been thinking it was a possibility but this week on Oilers Now, Edmonton's top NHL insider Bob Stauffer, the team's master of whisperers, shared this nugget: 'It wouldn't surprise me if the Oilers extended Matthias Ekholm, maybe even this summer.'' Article content Article content When Stauffer mentioned it, the ideas sounded OK enough, mainly because I'm like almost all of the rest of you: I admire Ekholm both as an individual and as a player. Article content Article content Acquiring him from Nashville was one of the two or three best moves former GM Ken Holland made with the Oilers, that and signing Zach Hyman and giving second chances to players like Evander Kane and Corey Perry, even as other NHL teams were too cautious and/or sanctimonious to consider the same. Article content Ekholm has been a stalwart since his arrival in Edmonton, teaming up with Evan Bouchard on the team's top-pairing to help lead the squad to two Stanley Cup Finals. But time and injury aren't the friends of a single NHL player. Time and injury catch up to all of them. We got a taste of that with Ekholm this season. He played as well as ever in the first half of the season, but after a series of core injury issues, his game wasn't the same. Article content Article content After a rough stretch of games where he leaked Grade A shots against, he was out for weeks in the final part of the season. When he came back in the playoffs, he was OK in general, but iffy in key moments, especially against Florida as the series went along. Ekholm wasn't alone in playing marginal hockey as that series unfolded, but he wasn't the exception to the general rule either. Article content When I first heard Stauffer's musing about Ekholm maybe getting a contract extension this summer — he's got one year left on a deal that pays him $6.25 million this year — my first thought was that the Oilers had best wait to see how Ekholm recovers and performs this year before committing to the player. Article content That notion has only been reinforced after looking at how other players aged 36 and up did in the NHL this past season.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL accused of sabotaging offense after shocking 90% drop in power play chances
The NHL is under fire as power-play chances plummet to a record low in the 2024-25 season (Image via Reuters) The NHL is facing scrutiny over a significant 90% decline in power-play chances, reaching a historic low in the 2024-25 season. This reduction impacts overall power-play goals and raises questions about officiating and evolving game strategies, as teams prioritize even-strength scoring and aggressive penalty kills. Jason Gregor blasts NHL officials for ignoring blatant penalties amid record-low power play stats A notable hockey commentator recently highlighted a sharp drop in NHL power-play opportunities. This significant decline naturally impacts how many goals teams can score with a man advantage, limiting offensive output even for skilled units. This reduction has not gone unheeded by seasoned observers. One particular analyst, Jason Gregor, articulated his strong disapproval on social media, highlighting the magnitude of the shift by remarking, 'A massive drop. Call the damn rulebook." The raw figures highlight this point: in 2023, the league saw 8,058 power-play instances, which dipped to 7,917 in 2024, and then plummeted further to just 7,101 in 2025. This latter figure represents an unprecedented low in the sport's history, averaging merely 5.41 power-play opportunities per contest. This trend coincides with a period where the league's offensive flair has increasingly focused on scoring during even-strength play, potentially minimising the dependence on power plays. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo Teams are also adapting with more assertive penalty-killing units and superior goaltending, which might either dissuade officials from issuing penalties or simply diminish the effectiveness of power plays when they do occur. Shifting focus, the same analyst, Jason Gregor, also shared his perspective on the considerable expectations facing the Edmonton Oilers. His insights came after the team's consecutive defeats in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers. League sees steepest decline in power play opportunities as fans and analysts demand accountability Discussing the situation on 'The Sheet,' Gregor conveyed, "I'm actually going to go off the board here. I think the Oilers' organization right now is a very serious group. You can't win the cup in October, you can't win it in December. You can lose it by having a terrible run. They're such a serious group, and I think there's so much internal pressure to win now, because they've lost twice." Avoiding Arbitration ft. Jason Gregor & David Pagnotta | The Sheet with Jeff Marek He further elaborated on their primary hurdle, phrasing, "I would say the biggest issue for them is being able to exhale a little bit, and enjoy the process, rather than always, every decision you make, thinking that it's all about June." The Oilers are set to commence their 2025-26 campaign with a highly slated 'Battle of Alberta' clash against the Calgary Flames, scheduled for October 8 at Rogers Place. These shifts underscore a transformative period for the NHL, as evolving strategies and officiating standards redefine the game, while teams like the Oilers navigate intense pressure in their quest for a championship. Also Read: 'Dumbest things': Matthew Tkachuk faces fan backlash after taking Stanley Cup to jail in latest celebration stunt FAQs Q1: Why are power play goals decreasing in the NHL? Fewer penalty calls have led to a historic drop in power play opportunities, limiting scoring chances. Q2: What did Jason Gregor say about the NHL's officiating? He criticized the league, saying 'Call the damn rulebook' in response to the sharp decline in power plays. Q3: Which team led the NHL in power play goals last season? The New Jersey Devils led with 30 power play goals, topping the league in 2024–25. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl cause stir by playing in beer league hockey game
Connor McDavid was back on the ice playing competitive hockey in recent days, but he wasn't at an NHL rink. The Edmonton Oilers superstar caused a stir in his hometown of Newmarket, Ontario in Canada when he and teammate Leon Draisaitl showed up as perhaps the most accomplished ringers to play in a beer league hockey game with non-professionals. Even more stunning: They then lost the game. Both players were wearing Oilers practice jerseys, according to videos on social media in the aftermath of their appearance, but TSN reported neither McDavid nor Draisaitl scored a goal in a 6-2 loss. Footage that surfaced included a semi-breakaway featuring McDavid getting stonewalled by a goalie. The experience was nonetheless a thrill for all those who happened to be there as the two players who led the NHL in points during this year's Stanley Cup playoffs took the ice for a summer league game. "Honestly, it's incredible to see them coming down the ice. It's nothing like you've ever seen," one of the refs in the game told BarDown, a hockey and sports culture website owned by TSN. The Oilers are coming off a second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Florida Panthers, but they are awaiting word from McDavid about a new contract. The 28-year-old center and former No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft is entering the final season of an 8-year, $100-million deal and is eligible to sign a new extension this offseason.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL trade rumor: Connor McDavid might re-sign with Oilers but other teams are also in the mix says NHL insider
Connor McDavid's future with the Oilers remains uncertain.(Image via Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers' captain and one of the most talented players in the league, is all set to become a free agent once his contract with the Oilers expire at the end of the 2025-26 season. The star player has not yet signed a contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers' yet and fans are panicking about it. But now, NHL insider Chris Johnston has spoken about what might be going on in Connor McDavid's mind. NHL Insider Chris Johnston reveals what Connor McDavid would end up doing after his contract with the Edmonton Oilers ends A few hours ago, the NHL insider Chris Johnston spoke about Connor McDavid's situation with his team, the Edmonton Oilers. Chris Johnston said, 'I don't really know. It's too soon to say or to handicap who's the most likely to sign him or anything like that. Again, probably the most likely is Edmonton frankly to re-sign Connor McDavid if we're being clear here.' Chris Johnson added, 'He's still at the peak of his game. He would be doing it at this time when the cap is like taking a monster leap. This really unique period in time. You know it must be in his mind a little bit.' Are there other teams that the Oilers' captain, Connor McDavid, might be interested in? However, NHL insider Chris Johnston has also added that there might be other teams which are also interested in signing a deal with Connor McDavid, even though no team has been named by him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo At the moment, the situation between Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers is pretty tricky. On one side, Connor McDavid has been with the Edmonton Oilers since the beginning of his debut in the NHL. But many fans have also felt that Connor McDavid desperately wants to win a Stanley Cup and that might not be possible if he stays in the team. For the last season, Connor McDavid looked pretty focused and motivated to win the Stanley Cup for his team. But luck was not on their side as they faced a second devastating loss against the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. Currently, neither Connor McDavid nor the Edmonton Oilers have commented on the speculations yet. FAQs Who is Connor McDavid married to? Connor McDavid is married to Lauren Kyle, an entrepreneur. When did Connor McDavid become captain of the Edmonton Oilers? Connor McDavid was named the captain in 2016. Also Read: Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina Gretzky's Hollywood dreams and massive net worth show she's more than just the NHL legend's daughter Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
