The moment arrived during a stoppage of play in the first period on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
The Nashville Predators played a tribute video for longtime defenseman Mattias Ekholm, now playing for the visiting Edmonton Oilers, on the arena scoreboard. Ekholm raised his hands to the crowd, who gave Ekholm a standing ovation. He pointed to his heart and back to the crowd as the video concluded.
It was every bit of the emotional moment most believed it would be during the Predators’ game against the Oilers. Take a look at the tribute video and the emotional reaction via Bally Sports South.
Third most games by defenseman in franchise history (719)
268 points
75 career playoff games
Alternate captain (2017-2023)Ekky will always have a home here 🥲 pic.twitter.com/zL8rQBXcIw
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) October 18, 2023
The Swedish defenseman was traded on Feb. 28 to the Oilers for defenseman Tyson Barrie, a 2023 first round pick, a 2025 fourth round pick and prospect Reid Schaefer. For Ekholm, who was a 2009 fourth round pick by the Predators, he had played all 12 NHL seasons in Nashville prior to last season’s deal before the deadline.
Ekholm is among the Predators franchise leaders in many marks. He has played the fifth-most games in franchise history (719) and tenth in points (268). He was a key cog of the Predators blue line for 12 seasons, including eight straight postseason appearances from 2015-2022. Ekholm made up one of the best top-four defenseman groups in the NHL during 2017-2019 alongside Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and P.K. Subban. All were in their mid-to-late-20s and in their career peaks. Only Josi remains with the Predators.
Ekholm alongside that group helped lead the Predators to the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals in the greatest postseason run in franchise history from the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. His hand in one of the greatest moments in franchise came in the previous postseason, as he assisted on Mike Fisher’s game-winning goal in triple overtime against the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the second round.
From 2017 to 2023, Ekholm wore the ‘A’ on his sweater as an alternate captain.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators honor former D Mattias Ekholm with tribute video during Oilers game
