The Edmonton Oilers’ next summer will be clouded by record-setting contract negotiations, but they’ll have a heap of top talent to re-sign behind Connor McDavid . Top of the list will be defenseman Mattias Ekholm , who expressed a strong desire to stick around in a recent conversation with Daily Faceoff’s Jason Gregor . The 35-year-old defenseman said:

Absolutely I want to stay in Edmonton, but I know you have to take care of the big boys first. Once [Connor McDavid] gets [signed] I’m sure we will talk.

Ekholm was narrowly Edmonton’s third defenseman last season. He averaged 22:12 in ice time each game while rotating in-and-out of a top pair role with Darnell Nurse , who averaged 22:22. His year ended with an impressive nine goals and 33 points in 65 games – the second-high

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