Oilers’ Ekholm clears protocol after hitting head on ice: ‘I think I got an angel watching over me’

Finding himself on the receiving end of a hit from Carolina Hurricanes winger William Carrier, the first part of Ekholm’s body to hit the ice early in that third period was his head.

Dazed, Ekholm stayed on the ice and needed help off it, wobbly as he tried to find his legs underneath him.

He spoke Tuesday for the first time, saying that, as bad as it looked, he felt fine soon after.

“It was a funky one. I’ve never, knock on wood, had a concussion in my career so far,” said the blue liner. “It was scary at first; my legs just kind of gave out, and I couldn’t really get up to just sit on my knees.

“But as soon as I got down the tunnel, it was kind of like somebody flipped the light switch on it, and I was kind of back to normal — no headache, no symptoms, no nothing. When you get his like that, you’ve got to go through the protocol and all of that.

“I think I got an angel watching over me or something on that one, because it could have been a lot worse.”

The defenceman returned to Oilers practice on Tuesday, returning to his spot on the top pairing alongside Evan Bouchard, saying he’s cleared protocol, indicating he’s likely to return to the lineup Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. He won’t be the only player who appears ready to return, however, as Jason Dickinson was also on the ice, centring the fourth line alongside Isaac Howard and Mathieu Joseph.

While head coach Mike Babcock was non-committal about Dickinson returning Wednesday, the veteran centre said he was.

“I’m feeling good,” he said on Tuesday. “Although it wasn’t my ankle, it’s kind of connected all together in the lack of reps and being able to get everything to the point that I would normally like it to be at the end of the summer.

“So this time, take an abundance of caution, make sure I’m definitely ready to go so that I’m not constantly in and out of the lineup, because nobody wants that.”

The Oilers also saw other lineup changes in practice Tuesday. With Zach Hyman out after leaving Monday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Colton Dach slid up to the left wing on the second line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kasperi Kapanen, looking comfortable for what might’ve been the first time this season. The abundance of injuries early this year had him playing up the middle, but Babcock was happy with what he saw of him on the wing.

Edmonton’s third line, which had been bleeding defensively, saw a change, as Owen Michaels centred Trent Frederic and both Alex Formenton and Filip Hallander, who rotated in on the opposite wing.

On the blue line, Jake Walman found himself the odd-man out with Ekholm returning, as Ryan Shea and Connor Murphy skated on the second pair, and Shakir Mukhamadulllin — who had a great game on the top pair with Bouchard Monday — skated on the third pair with Ty Emberson.

Zach Laing is the managing editor at Daily Faceoff Edmonton and news director at The Nation Network. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.PRESENTED BY LeaseBustersLeaseBusters is Canada’s premier lease takeover marketplace, helping drivers get out of their current vehicle leases without costly penalties or negative equity. Instead of paying thousands to break a lease, sellers connect with qualified buyers ready to take it over—saving money and avoiding financial stress. Buyers benefit from shorter-term commitments and often better monthly payments, while dealerships retain a replacement customer and leasing companies keep contracts active. It’s a smarter, more efficient solution for everyone involved. Four parties, four wins—only with LeaseBusters. For more information, check out www.LeaseBusters.com.