In a season that’s tested the Edmonton Oilers in just about every way imaginable, Mattias Ekholm has been one of the few constants-a steadying force on the blue line and a key partner in Evan Bouchard’s breakout campaign. But now, just as things were starting to settle, the Oilers are facing a familiar and unwelcome scenario: Ekholm is dealing with an injury again.
He missed practice today and is listed as day-to-day, but for Oilers fans, that phrasing might hit a little too close to home. After all, it was around this same time last season when Ekholm first went down with what was initially described as a minor issue. That injury lingered far longer than expected and ultimately left him operating at well below full speed during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs-a stretch where Edmonton needed every ounce of his experience and defensive presence.
This year, Ekholm has looked like his old self again, anchoring the back end with smart, physical play and showing flashes of offensive upside. He and Bouchard have formed one of the most effective defensive pairings in the league, and just recently, Ekholm followed Bouchard’s lead by notching a hat trick of his own-an exclamation point on a strong stretch of play.
The good news? The Olympic break is right around the corner, and since Ekholm won’t be suiting up for Team Sweden, he’ll have some built-in recovery time.
Given last year’s experience, the Oilers would be wise to give him every possible chance to get fully right. This team has eyes on another deep playoff run, and they’ll need Ekholm at full throttle-not running on fumes.
Around the Oilers: Roster Moves and Trade Talk
Elsewhere in Oil Country, a couple of intriguing developments are worth keeping an eye on.
First, former Oilers center Noah Philp was placed on waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes. Edmonton has the option to bring him back, but that seems unlikely for a couple of reasons.
Philp has battled injuries this season, and in the meantime, Josh Samanski has emerged as a legitimate option down the middle. Samanski, five years younger than Philp, was turning heads in Bakersfield with his two-way game before earning a call-up to the NHL.
His development may have shifted the organizational depth chart.
Then there’s the trade chatter, and one name that’s surfaced is Toronto winger Bobby McMann. NHL insiders Bob Stauffer and Elliotte Friedman discussed the possibility of McMann being a target for Edmonton at the deadline, and it’s not hard to see why.
McMann checks a lot of boxes for what the Oilers need. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he brings size and speed-two traits that fit well with Edmonton’s up-tempo style. He’s a local product, originally from Wainwright and a former AJHL standout in Bonnyville, and he’s having a career year with 17 goals and 29 points for the Maple Leafs.
What makes McMann especially appealing is his contract: a $1.35 million cap hit, which is a bargain for a team like Edmonton that’s navigating serious salary cap constraints. With Toronto trending toward seller territory at the deadline, McMann could be a realistic and impactful target.
“Honestly, he’s perfect for Edmonton,” said analyst Justin Bourne on Real Kyper & Bourne-and it’s hard to argue. He’s the kind of player who could slide into a middle-six role and bring some much-needed depth scoring and physicality.
For now, the focus remains on getting healthy and maintaining momentum. But as February approaches and the trade deadline looms, the Oilers’ front office will have some decisions to make-especially if they want to capitalize on what’s still a very real window of contention.