Mattias Ekholm landed in Edmonton in early 2023, part of a bold double-play by GM Ken Holland. The Oilers cleared cap space by shipping Jesse Puljujärvi to Carolina, then brought in Ekholm to shore up the blue line. And what a difference it made.

Let’s be real—before Ekholm, the Oilers’ defense was more “chaos theory” than “shutdown.” With his arrival, suddenly there was order. He’s the kind of player who just gets it done: steady in the defensive zone, sharp in transition, and even capable of stirring up some offense when the moment’s right. Sure, no one’s perfect—he’s had a few “oops” moments—but his impact on Evan Bouchard’s emergence as a top-tier offensive defenseman? Priceless.

The Jersey

This jersey marks a few firsts: it’s part of Fanatics’ debut season taking over from Adidas, and it’s the first time the Oilers’ away jerseys feature the Karbon-X advertising patch. Because, let’s face it, nothing says “hockey heritage” like a corporate logo. According to Oilers President and CRO Stew MacDonald, the patch represents “our long-standing roots, history, and partnerships with Northern Alberta’s energy sector.” Translation: “We found a sponsor.”

This jersey has a little extra meaning for me. I was at the Bell Centre in Montreal on November 18, 2024, the night Ekholm wore it. Watching the Oilers on the road is always special, but knowing the guy anchoring your defense is wearing a jersey that’s now part of your collection? That’s next-level fandom.

Game-Worn Jersey
Edmonton Oilers
2024/2025 NHL Season
White Set #1 – C00172
Fanatics Authentic Pro
Made In Canada – Size 58

Photo Matching

This jersey was photo-matched to several games between October 17 to December 29, 2024.

  • December 29, 2024 – Oilers @ Ducks
    In action at Honda Center in Anaheim, Ekholm can be seen wearing this jersey during the game against the Ducks. A clear black mark just beside the number on the right sleeve confirms the match. It’s the kind of detail that might seem small, but when you’re tracking game wear, it’s a pretty satisfying find.
  • November 19, 2024 – Oilers @ Senators
    Another match comes from Ottawa, where the Oilers wrapped up a win against the Senators. In a postgame shot of Ekholm congratulating Stuart Skinner, there’s a small cut on the left sleeve, right along the bottom blue stripe. Again, a small mark, but one that helps tie this jersey directly to the action on the ice.