THN.com/podcast. From The Hockey News Podcast: Reacting to a Wild Weekend of NHL Trades Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk2MjA5NzUxODQxODQyNjkz/usatsi_19971522.jpg] They might as well move the trade deadline up a few days. To continue an absolutely blistering day of deals across the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers swung for the fences by acquiring defenseman Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-round pick in exchange for defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick. Ekholm is under contract at a $6.25 million cap hit through 2025-26. The Predators will retain four percent of his salary. Finally, Ken Holland makes his big move. Ekholm is almost exactly what the Oilers need to round out their roster. The 32-year-old from Borlange, Swe. is a legitimate shutdown defender capable of playing in the top four and producing terrific defensive results. In 57 games for Nashville this season, Ekholm has racked up five goals and 13 assists for 18 points while logging nearly 22 minutes in average ice time. Ekholm will also give the Oilers another effective penalty-killer on the back end, only further addressing the needs of this should-be contender. While the price is certainly a steep one, the Oilers couldn't risk the possibility of wasting yet another year of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's primes, especially with both players set to produce career-high numbers this season. Barrie, on the other hand, is practically the opposite of Ekholm. The 31-year-old from Victoria, B.C. heads to Nashville as an offense-first defender who struggles in his own zone. In 61 games this season, Barrie has racked up an impressive 10 goals and 33 assists for 43 points in just over 19 minutes of average ice time. He remains under contract through next season at a cap hit of $4.5 million. In Schaefer, the Predators gain one of the Oilers' top prospects, who was drafted 32nd overall 2022. The 19-year-old from Edmonton currently has 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 44 games for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. He also got an assist in seven games as a member of the Canadian world juniors team that won gold this year in Halifax. With Ekholm, the Oilers appear ready to make some serious noise in the Western Conference.
