UNDATED (AP) — The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a four-year, $25 million extension, keeping him under contract through the 2025-26 season.
The team announced the contract Wednesday at a news conference. General manager David Poile says they couldn’t be happier to get this deal done before the season opener Thursday night against Seattle.
Ekholm was drafted by Nashville in 2009. He has played his entire career in Nashville.
In other NHL news:
— The New York Islanders will start the season with 13 straight road games. That’s the second-longest road trip in NHL history and the longest to start a season. The NHL drew up the plan while construction of the team’s new home at UBS Arena is completed. Playing a few more games at Nassau Coliseum was not an option, so instead the Islanders will crisscross the country. New York will play its first home game on Nov. 20 against Calgary, more than five weeks into the season.
— The Toronto Maple Leafs sported TikTok decals on their helmets for the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens. The social media platform’s logo to appear on players’ helmets throughout the season. The NHL added helmet advertisements last season and the board of governors has unanimously approved sponsor patches on jerseys beginning next season.
