from the Nashville Predators,

On Monday, the Nashville Predators locked up defenseman Mattias Ekholm for an additional six seasons with the Swede inking a six-year, $22.5 million contract extension ($3.75 million AAV). After the 6-4, 215-pound defenseman emerged as an elite NHL blueliner during a career-best campaign in 2014-15, Preds General Manager David Poile extended a long-term deal to Ekholm, who has become a key part of Nashville’s defensive corps for four major reasons:

Prototype d-man for Laviolette’s System:

Ekholm entered Predators Training Camp in 2014 with the coming campaign standing as a “prove-it” season. The Swede had shown he deserved minutes in the NHL in 2013-14, turning in a single goal and eight helpers in 62 games of action, but questions remained about whether he could be relied on as more than a situational, offensive defenseman.

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