The Nashville Predators and veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth a total of $25 million. The deal carries an average annual value of $6.25 million. General Manager David Poile announced the deal Wednesday, saying the multiyear contract will keep Ekholm with the Predators through the 2026 season.

Ekholm said: “Staying with this organization and in this city was a priority for me and my family, and I’m so excited to be able to sign this contract. Nashville is home for us – it’s where we want to be. I believe in the future of this team and I’m looking forward to the chance at competing for the Stanley Cup here in the next five seasons.”

Ekholm is on the final year of a six-year, $22.5-million deal entering the 2021-22 season; he’s played his entire 11-year career in Nashville and produced 23 points in 48 games for the Predators last season. The 31-year-old Ekholm has made an appearance in 71 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, which ties for the third-most among all skaters in franchise history.

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