Edmonton Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm is embarking on his 12th consecutive NHL playoff appearance this spring, marking the longest active streak among all players in the league. The veteran blueliner, now 35 years old, has become a fixture in the postseason, though he acknowledges one significant missing piece from his illustrious career.
A Remarkable Playoff Streak
Ekholm's playoff journey began after missing the postseason in his rookie year with the Nashville Predators in 2014. He then made eight straight playoff appearances with Nashville before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2023 in a deal involving Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, and a first-round draft pick. Since joining the Oilers, he has continued his playoff presence for four consecutive years.
"I don't know what to tell you. I've been on some very good teams ... let's start there," Ekholm said when discussing his consistent playoff appearances. "It's what everybody wants. To do that for a long time? It's obviously a good thing, but you also want to finish on top. I haven't been able to do that, but I'm on a great team again."
The Elusive Stanley Cup
Despite his extensive playoff experience, Ekholm has never hoisted the Stanley Cup. He came closest in 2017 when the Predators reached the final, only to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. More recently, he suffered heartbreak with the Oilers, losing to the Florida Panthers in seven games in 2024 and in six games in 2025.
Ekholm is not alone in his quest for a championship. The Oilers roster includes seven players aged 33 or older who have never won a Cup:
- Mattias Ekholm
- Adam Henrique
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- Zach Hyman
- Connor Murphy
- Mattias Janmark (currently injured with shoulder surgery)
- Calvin Pickard (No. 3 goalie)
Adam Henrique's Playoff Journey
Oilers center Adam Henrique brings his own playoff narrative to the mix. His postseason experiences have been marked by extremes. In his first playoff appearance with Anaheim in 2018, the Ducks were swept in four straight games by the San Jose Sharks. That series marked Anaheim's last playoff appearance until their current matchup with the Oilers.
Since joining Edmonton, Henrique has reached the Stanley Cup Final in his last two playoff runs. "I had a lot of great years in Anaheim. I was a part of that for a long time (435 league games) and now they are where they are ... building, and they've come out the other side. They've done a good job," Henrique reflected.
Henrique joined the Ducks in November 2017 via a trade from New Jersey that sent defenceman Sami Vatanen the other way. At 27 years old with six full NHL seasons under his belt, he found himself surrounded by veteran players with substantial playoff success, including Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler.
"Every year they seemed to be in the conference final, and to go there with those players, it really helped my career," Henrique said of his Anaheim experience.
The Anaheim Ducks' Comeback Mentality
The current Anaheim Ducks present a different challenge for the Oilers. During the regular season, the Ducks led the NHL with 26 comeback victories, demonstrating remarkable resilience when playing from behind. However, their coach, Joel Quenneville—who boasts three Stanley Cup rings from his time with the Chicago Blackhawks—acknowledges that this approach might not be sustainable in the playoff grind.
"We were never out of any game, scoring big goals, timely goals this season," Quenneville noted. "And playing catch-up is a good asset to have. But, yes, I would have liked to play with the lead more. I don't know if that's a recipe for success in playoffs. In playoffs, you're playing the score, you're playing the time, who's on the ice. It's easier to play defence with a lead than trying to play catch-up."
As the Oilers begin another playoff campaign, the experience of veterans like Ekholm and Henrique provides valuable leadership. Yet the ultimate goal remains unchanged: to finally capture the championship that has eluded them throughout their careers.
