NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 16: Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14), of Sweden, acknowledges the fans at the conclusion of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets, held on January 16, 2021, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher was left with a gaping hole on the blue line when Matt Niskanen officially announced his retirement one day before the NHL Draft was set to commence. Niskanen was a very reliable Right-Handed Defenseman that was on the top pairing, while being paired with a work-horse in Ivan Provorov.
Is he easy to replace? Oh heck no, and Fletcher stated “Good luck” with trying to find a replacement for Niskanen. However, with the trade deadline looming and the Nashville Predators ready to unload assets (As they sit in 7th place in the Central Division) there is one way to replace Niskanen, trade for the services of Mattias Ekholm.
Ekholm, 30-years-old, is a Left-Handed Defenseman that can play the right side if he is asked to. He is not the flashiest defenseman (3 assists in 12 games played), offensively, but he can hit with the best of them. Ekholm is a heavy hitter, and that could also be of use on this Flyers team. He is also a minutes eating defenseman as he has averaged 20:54.
The Predators are trying to shed some salary and with the expansion draft on the horizon they are trying to obtain assets in a way of prospects to restart a rebuild. Ekholm would need protection for the expansion draft that is looming following the 2020-21 season, as his contract extends into the 2021-22 season with a cap hit of $3.75 million.
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This Predators Defenceman is steady and reliable, and plays really sound two-way hockey. He is a solid and well-balanced skater. Ekholm posseses solid puck-moving and passing skills. He is not afraid to be physical as he stands at 6’4, and weighs 215 pounds. Ekholm is currently nursing a lower body injury, an injury that has sidelined him the last three games, but he is set to return shortly.
Ekholm, plays a simple mistake free game. He needs to shoot the puck more, but he would pair nicely with Ivan Provorov, or at the very least be a middle pairing Defenceman for Alain Vigneault and the Flyers.
What would it take to obtain Ekholm?
It has been a tall task to replace the leadership, and on ice tutelage that Niskanen possessed. However, this may be the cheapest and easiest way for Fletcher to replace Niskanen. With the Predators looking to shed salary ASAP (As soon as possible) and obtain prospects, it may only take one-two prospects (Not York, Frost, or Brink) and a first round pick to do such.
At the end of the day Ekholm will be coveted by multiple teams to include the Winnipeg Jets. Fletcher is aware of such, and it may be best to try to obtain Ekholm sooner rather than later to avoid bidding wars.
