Predators sign Mattias Ekholm to six-year, $22.5 million deal

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

The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a six-year, $22.5 million deal, the team announced Monday. 

Ekholm had been playing on the second year of a two-year, $2.075 million contract and was set to become a free agent next summer. The new contract will pay him $3.75 million annually. 

Ekholm, a fourth-round pick out of Sweden by the Predators in 2009, has one goal and three points for Nashville this season. 

The signing now leaves forward Filip Forsberg and defenseman Seth Jones as the major contributors for Nashville who could potentially become free agents after this season. 

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