{"id":39949,"date":"2019-01-10T10:52:08","date_gmt":"2019-01-10T15:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=39949"},"modified":"2019-01-10T10:52:08","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T15:52:08","slug":"mattias-ekholm-priceless-for-nashville-predators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/01\/10\/mattias-ekholm-priceless-for-nashville-predators\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattias Ekholm Priceless for Nashville Predators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/predators\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nashville Predators<\/a> defence is arguably the best in the National Hockey League. Players like <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/subbapk01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">P.K. Subban<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/ellisry01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Ellis<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/j\/josiro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Roman Josi<\/a> <\/strong>are worth the big salaries they command. However, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/ekholma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mattias Ekholm<\/a> <\/strong>is likely the biggest value in the league.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mattias Ekholm might be underrated. But is he underpaid? The Predators defenseman doesn&#39;t think so. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JwbOkPphsi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/JwbOkPphsi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Paul Skrbina (@PaulSkrbina) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PaulSkrbina\/status\/1083335143954268160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h1>Mattias Ekholm Showing Value<\/h1>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeynews.com\/news\/article\/is-the-predators-mattias-ekholm-the-biggest-bargain-in-the-nhl-today\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recent article in <em>The Hockey News<\/em><\/a> stated that Ekholm is one of the biggest bargains in the league.<\/p>\n<p>Ekholm commands a salary of $3.75 million per season\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.capfriendly.com\/players\/mattias-ekholm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">over the next three seasons<\/a>. Josi has a comparable pay-rate of $4 million per season, but he\u2019s likely to net a big raise after his deal expires next season. Subban brings in $9 million per year, but that deal was given to him by <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal Canadiens<\/a> general manager<strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bergema01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marc Bergevin<\/a><\/strong>. Ellis recently signed a long-tern deal that will give him $6.25 million a campaign until the end of the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n<p>These values are typical of Predators general manager David Poile. He\u2019s widely regarded as one of the best negotiators in the league that manages to get key players to fit into the salary cap. Nashville\u2019s cap juggling act is similar to the way the New England Patriots do it in the National Football League.<\/p>\n<p>Subban\u2019s big personality and big game overshadow\u00a0the other three defenders. Josi was first regarded as the underrated one, but that title shifted over to Ellis. It\u2019s now Ekholm\u2019s time to be known as the most underrated defenceman of the group. Subban and Ekholm have formed one of the league\u2019s best defensive pairings.<\/p>\n<h1>A Two-Way Star<\/h1>\n<p>The Borlange, Sweden native is a big body at 6-feet-4-inches and 215 pounds. However, he\u2019s not just a big, plodding defender. He has a great two-way game that is regarded as a shutdown-defender with offensive skill. The former fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft has five goals and 27 assists for 32 points in 44 games. Those numbers are good enough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/predators\/stats\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">for second in points<\/a> on the team behind first-line centre <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/j\/johanry01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Johansen<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>His two assists in Wednesday night\u2019s 4-3 overtime victory over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/blackhawks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> was his third straight multi-point game. He\u2019s three points short of eclipsing his career-high of 35 in just over half a season.<\/p>\n<p>He picked up the slack when Subban was out for 19 games and helped the Predators stay close in the Central Division. Nashville currently leads the rival <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/jets\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Winnipeg Jets<\/a> by one point going into Thursday night\u2019s games.<\/p>\n<h1>Staying Grounded<\/h1>\n<p>Ekholm has managed to stay humble and looks at everything with a workman-like attitude. He is underpaid according to some, but he\u2019s said he\u2019s glad he won\u2019t have to work after his hockey career is complete.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These numbers, the money we get paid, it&#8217;s crazy how some people discuss small details in contracts,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennessean.com\/story\/sports\/2019\/01\/09\/nashville-predators-chicago-blackhawks-mattias-ekholm-roman-josi-ryan-ellis-pk-subban\/2489185002\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">he said to <em>The Tennessean<\/em>.<\/a> &#8220;I&#8217;m just really happy with the deal I got. I know I&#8217;m going to be set for my entire life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Head coach <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/laviope01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Peter Laviolette<\/a> <\/strong>has described that Ekholm is almost irreplaceable. Ekholm has added offence to his already solid defensive game. That offence has helped when players like <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/a\/arvidvi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Viktor Arvidsson<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/f\/forsbfi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Filip Forsberg<\/a> <\/strong>and Subban have been out.<\/p>\n<h1>The Last Word<\/h1>\n<p>Nashville is one of the favourites to hoist the Stanley Cup at the end of the season. The recent spate of injuries threatened that, but Ekholm helped stabilize the situation.<\/p>\n<p>The Predators still will get players<strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/turriky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Turris<\/a> <\/strong>back and regain the chemistry from the start of the season. However, the recent returns of Forsberg and Arvidsson as well the play of Ekholm have them starting to get back into form before the All-Star Break.<\/p>\n<p>Ekholm will get that raise and maybe a Stanley Cup or two before his contract ends if he keeps up his solid play.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2018\/12\/gettyimages-1072916366-612x612.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>NASHVILLE, TN &#8211; DECEMBER 13: Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) and referee Jean Hebert (15) talk during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks, held on December 13, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Nashville Predators defence is arguably the best in the National Hockey League. Players like P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi are worth the big salaries they command. However, Mattias Ekholm is likely the biggest value in the league. Mattias Ekholm might be underrated. But is he underpaid? The Predators defenseman doesn&#39;t think so. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":39188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,2],"tags":[245,460,770,1778,243,253,1547,329,1546,1108,1143],"class_list":["post-39949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-predators","category-featured","tag-david-poile","tag-filip-forsberg","tag-kyle-turris","tag-mattias-ekholm","tag-nashville-predators","tag-p-k-subban","tag-peter-laviolette","tag-roman-josi","tag-ryan-ellis","tag-ryan-johansen","tag-viktor-arvidsson"],"modified_by":"Ben Kerr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}