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Nashville Predators sign Mattias Ekholm to four-year contract extension

AP photo by Karl B DeBlaker / The Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi, left, collides with the Nashville Predators' Mattias Ekholm during an NHL preseason game on Oct. 5 in Raleigh, N.C.
AP photo by Karl B DeBlaker / The Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi, left, collides with the Nashville Predators' Mattias Ekholm during an NHL preseason game on Oct. 5 in Raleigh, N.C. AP photo by Karl B DeBlaker / The Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi, left, collides with the Nashville Predators' Mattias Ekholm during an NHL preseason game on Oct. 5 in Raleigh, N.C.

By The Associated Press 2 min read

NASHVILLE – The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a four-year, $25 million extension that will keep him under contract with the team through the 2025-26 season.

The Predators announced the contract Wednesday at a news conference.

General manager David Poile called Ekholm a foundational piece for the Predators and said they couldn’t be happier to get this deal done before the season opener Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken, the NHL expansion club that lost 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday as a new season began.

Poile said Ekholm, at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, brings size to the blue line along with being a mentor.

“We have a group of young, right-shot defensemen that includes Alexandre Carrier, Philippe Myers, Dante Fabbro and Matt Benning who all have the opportunity to learn from and play with Mattias on the side opposite him, and we’re excited about the stability that will provide us on the blue line,” Poile said.