With Mattias Ekholm entering his mid-30s and playing a crucial role in unlocking Evan Bouchard, the Edmonton Oilers face a difficult decision. Host Nick Zararis breaks down the pros and cons of a potential extension, including aging curves, salary cap implications, and comparable contracts for Chris Tanev, Ryan McDonagh, and more.

Nick also looks at:

Ekholm’s value beyond the box score

How defense-first players age in today’s speed-and-skill NHL

Why Jake Walman might be the long-term solution

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0:00 Intro: Oilers' decisions on Matthias Ekholm's future

5:14 Challenges in valuing defensive defensemen

10:22 Current NHL market for aging defensemen

15:58 Comparing Ekholm to other defensive contracts

20:04 Ekholm's importance to Oilers' playoff success

24:38 Finding the right partner for top defensemen

28:41 Outro: Subscribe to Locked On NHL

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