*Photo from the Fourth Period*
There was no warning on this one, which makes it more exciting when it breaks. The Edmonton Oilers have acquired D Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 6th round pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for D Tyson Barrie, LW Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first round pick, and a 2024 4th round pick, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The deal has been confirmed.
Ekholm is a left shot defenseman who will hopefully solidify the Oilers defense core, which needs help to give the Oilers a jolt in the playoff race. He is a former 4th round pick who is on the first year of a 4 year, $25 million contract. The deal has a $6.25 million AAV, with 4 percent being retained.
Asked about the trade, Ekholm said that "When you've been in the League for 12 years, you feel like you've been through it all and seen it all, but clearly I haven't because I've never been traded before. There is a lot of new stuff going on right now, but the initial thought is that I'm super excited. I know Edmonton is one of the top teams in the League and have some top offensive skill on their team, if not the best."
This season is Ekholm's 12th in the league, all with the Predators. So far this season, Ekholm has 5 goals and 13 assists for 18 points. He has a 0 rating while averaging 21:44 of ice time per game through 57 games.
Unlike Ekholm, Barrie is more offensively skilled and also is a right shot defenseman. He was serving as the quarterback of the Oilers lethal power play unit. Barrie is on the second year of a 3 year, $13.5 million contract. It has a $4.5 million AAV, with the Predators taking on the remainder of the salary.
Nashville GM David Poile said of getting Barrie that "I think that was a real good addition. We've really struggled this year on defense from an offensive standpoint. Josi does it all, but he's the only one that does it all. We're getting no goals, no points from anyone. I acknowledge that the Edmonton power play might be the best power play ever in the National Hockey League. I know they have some other names, but he's a part of that. He's always been a really good defenseman with a definite accent on being an offensive guy."
Barrie's offensive production has been well noted this season. So far this season, he has 10 goals and 33 assists, racking up 43 points. He has averaged 19:08 of ice time per game while posting a -3 rating in 61 games for the Oilers.
Schaefer, the other player going to Nashville, was a first round pick in the 2022 draft, picked with the 32nd overall pick by Edmonton. The 19 year old winger has yet to play in a professional game, still playing in the WHL.
This season, Schaefer is in his 4th season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Schaefer has 23 goals and 24 assists for the Thunderbirds, averaging just over a point per game while posting a +21 rating in 44 games.
Nashville makes the trade as they are 8 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Edmonton on the other hand, is squarely in playoff position, sitting in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, trailing the first place Vegas Golden Knights by 4 points entering Wednesday.
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