Mattias Ekholm
A towering Swedish defenseman whose quiet, cerebral game became the backbone of championship-caliber teams in Nashville and Edmonton.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Swedish ice hockey player·Birthday: May 24·Millennials
Biography
Mattias Ekholm's path to the NHL was not a spotlight affair. Drafted in the fourth round by the Nashville Predators in 2009, the native of Borlänge, Sweden, honed his craft in the Swedish leagues before making the leap. In Nashville, he evolved from a promising prospect into a defensive pillar, a player whose value was measured not in flashy points but in his immense reach, calm puck retrievals, and ability to shut down opposing forwards. Partnering often with Roman Josi, Ekholm formed half of one of the league's most formidable defensive pairings, a key component in the Predators' run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. In a pivotal 2023 trade, he was sent to the Edmonton Oilers, where his immediate impact was seismic; his steadying presence transformed the team's defensive identity and propelled them to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Ekholm's story is one of understated excellence, proving that a player can reshape a franchise's fortunes without ever leading the scoring charts.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mattias was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mattias Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Mattias's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a central role on the Nashville Predators team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
- Recorded a career-high +41 plus/minus rating during the 2022-23 NHL season.
- His trade to the Edmonton Oilers in 2023 catalyzed the team's defensive turnaround and run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
- Represented Sweden at multiple IIHF World Championships, winning gold in 2018.
Did You Know?
He was drafted 102nd overall in 2009, the same draft where his future Oilers teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was selected first overall.
Ekholm and his wife, Frida, are avid dog lovers and have a French Bulldog named Lilo.
He did not make his full-time NHL debut until the 2013-14 season, four years after being drafted.
His younger brother, Adam Ekholm, is also a professional hockey player in Sweden.
“A good defenseman makes the simple play, every single shift.”
