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Preds re-sign Mattias Ekholm for two years

The Nashville Predators have announced that they’re re-signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

Ekholm was one of three restricted free agent defensemen Nashville had on its roster this summer. His new contract is for two years at $2.075 million total.

As far as the other two RFA’s go, Ryan Ellis has not reached a new agreement yet and the Preds chose to not qualify Michael Del Zotto.

The official press release is below.

Nashville, Tenn. (July 9, 2014) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that restricted free agent defenseman Mattias Ekholm has signed a two-year, $2.075 million contract that will pay him $1,037,500 in both 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Ekholm, 24 (5/24/90), ranked 12th among NHL rookie blueliners in both games played (62) and minutes played (1,042:38) in 2013-14, posting nine points (1g-8a). He was one of just six NHL defensemen to play at least 50 games and be assessed 10 or fewer penalty minutes during his first full campaign with the Predators, after appearing in one game in 2012-13, and a pair in 2011-12. The Borlange, Sweden native tied for ninth among AHL rookie defensemen in goals, and ranked ninth among rookie blueliners in points (10g-22a-32pts) with Milwaukee in 2012-13, and was a winner of both the Borje Salming Award as the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League, and the Le Mat Trophy as SHL champions with Brynas in 2012. He also earned SHL Rookie of the Year honors with the club in 2010-11.

Nashville’s seventh choice, 102nd overall (fourth round), in the 2009 Entry Draft, the 6-4, 202-pound blueliner helped Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championship, being named one of the nation’s three best players after tying for second (with Predators teammate Roman Josi) among tournament defensemen in points (2g-5a-7pts), while leading all Swedish skaters in average ice time (21:56). He also earned a bronze medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship, tying for the tournament lead with a +10 rating, and helped the Tre Kronor win the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

You can follow Ekholm on Twitter @MatEkh14.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Fuqua (used with permission)