Edmonton Oilers fans purr after Mattias Ekholm debut: "The Oilers look like they found the missing piece"

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Wednesday night. After the win, Mattias Ekholm shared his thoughts on his first game as an Oilers player.

Ekholm said it had been a rollercoaster ride for him, but he enjoyed playing for his new team. Ekholm added that he arrived early in the morning and once he saw his teammates and spent time with them, he gained an understanding of the situation, which helped him adjust quickly.

"You see the guys straightaway, you get into a game situation, you get to know them. It's kind of nice to beat Toronto at home the first game."

NHL Twitter loved his response, with few terming him as a legend and savior.

---

Mattias Ekholm career overview

Mattias Ekholm during a game v Philadelphia Flyers

The 32-year-old started his professional journey with the Nashville Predators and debuted for them in the 2011-12 season. Ekholm has played over 700 games and has 269 points to his credit. Averaging over 21 minutes per game, he has scored 14 game-winning goals at an overall shooting percentage of 4.5.

In the current season, in 58 starts, Ekholm has scored five goals, as well as 14 assists, 62 hits, and over 75 blocks.

He had a six-year contract with the Predators, which would have run until the 2025-26 season. However, he is likely to earn around $6 million per year at the Edmonton Oilers, as 4% of his previous salary will be covered by his previous franchise.

What's next for Mattias Ekholm and the Edmonton Oilers?

The Edmonton Oilers have been decent this season and are placed third in the Western Conference Pacific with 74 points. The Oilers have one of the best offenses in the league and have notched up close to 240 goals.

Connor McDavid has led the offense with over 50 goals and 65 assists so far. But their defensive setup has been poor overall, which prompted them to look for changes.

With the signing of Mattias Ekholm, the team has attempted to fill the void. Ekholm will look to continue delivering for his new team as the Edmonton Oilers battle it out for a place in the playoffs. The Oilers will play the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, March 3.