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[Extension] Ekholm signs with Preds


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The Predators have signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a six year, $22.5 million contract.

With Ekholm signing for $3.75M x 6 by NSH, that means the Ekholm-Ellis pairing signed through 2018-19 for combined $6.25M. Hmm.

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So many reasons to be jealous of the Predators D and it sure looks like they are going to be set for years to come.  Ellis, Ekholm, Josi are 25 and signed for a combined cap hit of 10.25M.  Add Weber and that's only 18M for Nashville's top 4Ds.  Jones is only 21 and a RFA.

Extract from their website: http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=784784

 

Ekholm-Ellis Pairing Locked up for Years to Come:

An uptick in Ekholm’s production last season also helped produce record-setting numbers for defensive partner Ryan Ellis and caused the pairing to emerge as one of the League’s best. Ekholm’s six-year deal and Ellis’ five-year contract inked last season means the pairing can continue to gel and develop until at least 2019.

With both d-men possessing offensive firepower, quick first passes out of their own end and natural chemistry, if this pairing continues to develop - as it already has this season - watch out.

“They’re both good, young players and they keep getting better,” Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne said of the pairing. “When you play more minutes, that comfort and confidence level rises, and I can see that from them. When they’re on the ice, they’re making plays and strong first passes. They’re working to keep it simple, but when they can use their speed and their skill then they do… With both of those guys it’s really easy [for us to work together] because they talk so much, and they want to help the other one on the ice. It’s fun to watch those guys play.”

Nashville’s Strength Developing into a Foundation:

Prior to the 2015-16 season, USA Today ranked the Predators defense as the NHL’s best.

“Check off every box when it comes to this defense. They can defend, play a rugged style, but also move the puck well and provide offense... You could conceivably fit five of them in a top-pair role,” wrote Jimmy Hascup earlier this month.

Following Ekholm’s new deal, four of those five “top-pair” defensemen are set to skate in Predators Gold for many years to come with Roman Josi, Shea Weber and Ellis all signed through the 2018-19 season. Add in Seth Jones, a restricted free agent after the 2015-16 campaign, likely signing a contract extension as well and that number swells to five-for-five long-term blueliners in Nashville.

Don’t forget that Ekholm, Ellis, Josi and Jones are all under the age of 26 and are yet to enter the prime of their careers. It’s safe to say media outlets will be making space for the Preds d-corps in their Top Five rankings for the foreseeable future.

 

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That's just good business.  Honestly, the Preds are in a situation with their current blue line plus their stud D prospects still in the NCAA and CHL that they can literally draft nothing but forwards for the next 4 or 5 seasons without worry.

 

If they can get and maintain any semblance of offensive consistency from their forward group they almost have to win a cup at some point.

 

I feel envy when I see that D, D envy....so much D you could choke on it

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I think the first playoffs for some of their younger players together had an impact last year and NSH will make it to at least the 2nd round this year. Lavi is a pretty smart and adaptive playoff coach, out of the 6 times he's made the playoffs he's been past the 1st round four times, including a Cup and SCF appearance. 

Jackman will be a better playoff defenseman than Franson, and Josi will be better than Josi last year. They'll probably need an improvement on Hodgson soon, who's TOI has been reduced to 9 and 7 minutes the last two games, and could maybe use one more offensive weapon up front...maybe like Vrbata who had his first glimpses of a breakout under Lavi. 

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via Reddit:
Are they really screwing themselves though?

Ekholm is banking 3.75 a year with no state income tax.

Playing with a cost of living calculator from CNN Money, 3.75 in Nashville is roughly equivalent to:

5.7 mil a year in Boston
5.6 mil a year in LA
4.9 mil a year in Chicago
9.2 mil in NYC

If he'd signed for 5.7 a year in Boston, everyone would say he'd done well. But he wouldn't really be any richer when it comes to buying power and quality of life than making 3.75 in Nashville. He'd likely be even worse off after taxes are figured in.
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How to build an elite D-core:

Josi (drafted 2nd round) - Weber (drafted 2nd round)
Ekholm (drafted 4th round) - Ellis (drafted 1st round)
Jackman (UFA signing) - Jones (drafted 1st round)
Bitteto (drafted 6th round)


How to NOT build an elite D-core:

Edler (drafted 3rd round) - Tanev (UFA signing)
Hamhuis (UFA signing) - Bartkowski (UFA signing)
Sbisa (trade) - Hutton (drafted 5th round)
Weber (UFA signing)


Fun fact: Vancouver hasn't used a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on a defenseman since taking Yann Sauve in 2008. Since 2003, they have only selected D-men 3 times in the first 2 rounds (Sauve, Ellington, and Bourdon). Whereas in that same timeframe Nashville has selected 10 D in those rounds (Suter, Klein, Weber, Parent, Blum, Josi, Ellis, Roussel, Jones, Dougherty).

Not even Nashville hits a stud every time. That's why they make sure to keep the cupboard stocked.

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How to build an elite D-core:

Josi (drafted 2nd round) - Weber (drafted 2nd round)
Ekholm (drafted 4th round) - Ellis (drafted 1st round)
Jackman (UFA signing) - Jones (drafted 1st round)
Bitteto (drafted 6th round)


How to NOT build an elite D-core:

Edler (drafted 3rd round) - Tanev (UFA signing)
Hamhuis (UFA signing) - Bartkowski (UFA signing)
Sbisa (trade) - Hutton (drafted 5th round)
Weber (UFA signing)


Fun fact: Vancouver hasn't used a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on a defenseman since taking Yann Sauve in 2008. Since 2003, they have only selected D-men 3 times in the first 2 rounds (Sauve, Ellington, and Bourdon). Whereas in that same timeframe Nashville has selected 10 D in those rounds (Suter, Klein, Weber, Parent, Blum, Josi, Ellis, Roussel, Jones, Dougherty).

Not even Nashville hits a stud every time. That's why they make sure to keep the cupboard stocked.

Well it's not like our forward prospects were doing so hot either for all these years up until two seasons ago. We had to at least plan for the Sedins retirement all these years and now we're only starting to draft players who could somewhat replace them.

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  • 3 months later...
On ‎27‎/‎10‎/‎2015 at 7:57 AM, D-Money said:

How to build an elite D-core:

Josi (drafted 2nd round) - Weber (drafted 2nd round)
Ekholm (drafted 4th round) - Ellis (drafted 1st round)
Jackman (UFA signing) - Jones (drafted 1st round)
Bitteto (drafted 6th round)


How to NOT build an elite D-core:

Edler (drafted 3rd round) - Tanev (UFA signing)
Hamhuis (UFA signing) - Bartkowski (UFA signing)
Sbisa (trade) - Hutton (drafted 5th round)
Weber (UFA signing)


Fun fact: Vancouver hasn't used a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on a defenseman since taking Yann Sauve in 2008. Since 2003, they have only selected D-men 3 times in the first 2 rounds (Sauve, Ellington, and Bourdon). Whereas in that same timeframe Nashville has selected 10 D in those rounds (Suter, Klein, Weber, Parent, Blum, Josi, Ellis, Roussel, Jones, Dougherty).

Not even Nashville hits a stud every time. That's why they make sure to keep the cupboard stocked.

Some great points. It has been a rare thing from the beginning that Van has developed their talent to successful NHL careers. IMO that is what JB/TL are changing. The depth is increasing and they are putting that young talent in Utica to develop. I expect 2 - 3 Utica players will make the club next year. I don't want to over rate what the prospect pool is, which is not close to being deep enough. I would also suggest that the number of young players who have got their first NHL game this year is not as much a commitment to youth as it is the brutal truth that the org has no other option.

I guess the other option might be the traditional one of trading draft picks for stop gap players who might get the club to a playoff round. That has been tried for decades and rarely works.   

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