The media questions Ekholm's top 20 defensive ranking

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Finnegan Frost
September 1, 2024 (1:22 PM)

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The NHL has recently published their top 20 defensive ranking, and Edmonton Oilers blue-liner Mattias Ekholm has made the cut.

This week, the NHL came out with their highly anticipated TOP 20 defencemen, and two Edmonton Oilers players have been mentioned. Mattias Ekholm ranked 16th and Evan Bouchard coming in at 9th. Although this is great news for Oilers enthusiasts heading into the regular season, the media has a slightly different opinion concerning Mattias Ekholm.

Sports Illustrated had this to say about Ekholm:

While acknowledging that Ekholm had a great season, to include him on this list is a sign of the Oilers' bias currently plaguing the league's media. Now, there's always going to be oversights and issues taken with these sorts of list.

If any team should have had two defensemen on this list, it's the Dallas Stars. Thomas Harley emerged as a two-way defensive force, recording 15 goals and 47 points while also averaging the second most ice-time behind Miro Heiskanen.

Sports Illustrated, a prominent sports resource suggests that Mattias Ekholm has no business being mentioned in the NHL TOP 20. In addition to that, Sports Illustrated suggests that the NHL is now "plagued" with Oilers media, hinting that there was unfair bias pertaining to the TOP 20 decision making.

Ekholm had NHL career highs in goals (11), points (45) and shots on goal (177) last season while averaging 21:03 of ice time per game," they wrote. "He led the Oilers and was third in the NHL last season with a plus-44 rating, and had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 25 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Edmonton reach the Cup Final.

I don't think having Ekholm ranked at 16th is inaccurate. Even at the age of 34, he's proven to be a sound blue-liner with elite capabilities. Will he be able to duplicate his success from last year? Only time will tell.

source: SI
Oilers' Defenseman Solid, But Not Top 20