Ekholm speaks to Oilers fans after blockbuster trade

In case you missed it in the flurry of transaction earlier today, the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators hooked up on a blockbuster deal involving three players and three draft picks changing hands.

The Oilers acquired defenseman Mattias Ekholm and a 6th round pick in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a 1st round pick and a 4th round pick.

Check it out:

Ekhold is obviously the biggest piece of this deal, but it's honestly a bit surprising to me to see Barrie on the move. With the Oilers' salary cap situation though it seems like GM Ken Holland was forced to deal a player with some heft to his contract and Barrie's $4.5 million contract seems to fit the bill.

The 32 year old Ekholm has three years remaining on a deal that pays him $6.25 million per season. In 57 games with the Preds this season, Ekholm has five goals and 18 points. In total he has 62 goals and 268 points in 719 NHL games, all with the Predators. He joined the team in 2011 after being drafted in the 4th round (102nd overall) in 2009.

Ekholm met with the Edmonton media immediately following the trade and made it clear that he's happy to be in Edmonton and is excited at what he calls, "the opportunity of a lifetime."

"I feel like this team can really do damage in the playoffs and I’m beyond excited to join this group," he said to Oilers insider Ryan Rishaug. Ekholm also said that he expected this trade following the Preds' trade of Tanner Jeannot this past weekend, saying that he was "ready for it to happen."

He's expected to fly Edmonton tomorrow morning and could be available for the team's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Edmonton that evening. Obviously, there are things to take care of but Ekholm did sound very much like he's excited to join the team and will be in the lineup the moment he's able to. There are, of course, logistical reasons that could keep him out of the lineup until Friday's game against the Winnipeg Jets however.