The Edmonton Oilers entered the Stanley Cup Final with several players nursing injuries, and one of their most important defensemen was among them. He skated through the series with a torn adductor muscle that stripped away much of his mobility and limited his explosiveness.
How Much Did the Oilers’ Blue Line Injury Impact Their Cup Run?
The injury dated back to April 11 against San Jose, when he left the game after a fall. What followed was six and a half weeks on the shelf, costing him the final stretch of the regular season and most of the playoffs.
He didn’t return until the Western Conference Final against Dallas, and by then the damage was clear, his stride no longer had the same push.
That player was Mattias Ekholm. At 35, he still contributed six points in seven playoff games, but admitted later that he was far from his normal level.
“It wasn’t great. You’re more out there to survive rather than create and play your game,” Ekholm said. “The first couple of playoff games it (adductor) was good because you’re so into it mentally…but after that, I wouldn’t say you lose it, but it becomes more normal (hard work). It was definitely a challenge that I hadn’t had in my career.”
Ekholm leaned on painkillers and injections to get through shifts, but those couldn’t restore the speed needed to close gaps against elite competition. His minutes rose from 16 in his last appearance against Dallas to more than 29 in back-to-back overtime games versus the Florida Panthers, a load that exposed how limited he really was.
General manager Stan Bowman later estimated Ekholm was “70 percent.” That might have been enough earlier in the postseason, but against the Panthers it wasn’t. Still, Ekholm never considered stepping aside.
“Looking back, it was difficult, at times. Obviously skating is a big part of hockey. No excuses. I decided to play,” he said.
A Vital Piece of the Oilers’ Core
Healthy again, Ekholm has shifted his attention to the upcoming season. He has already been skating in Edmonton, preparing for another deep run. “Now, I’m excited (healthy again). If I lose the puck, at least I know I can get it back,” he told reporters.
Ekholm is entering the final year of his four-year, $25 million contract. He has made it clear he wants to stay in Edmonton, though he acknowledged that Connor McDavid’s next extension will be the franchise’s top priority.
“Absolutely (I want to stay),” he said. “I guess there will be discussions but you’re going to be talking to a guy in a few minutes who’s the big focus. I’ve been around long enough in this league to know you take care of the big boys first,”
For now, Ekholm isn’t worried about negotiations. His focus remains on staying healthy and giving the Oilers their best chance to return to the Stanley Cup Final.
