I caught up with Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm at morning skate before they take on the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena. We talked about what they did well against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, how they carry that forward, his new affection for a specific podcast and the joys of fatherhood.
Here’s that conversation with Ekholm:
Stanley: What were a couple of things from the Dallas game that you liked about your game that you’d like to see the team carry forward here tonight?
Ekholm: I think the aggressive mindset, the skating, the competitiveness, just the overall readiness. I thought we were ready to go, ready to compete, ready to battle. Ready to play hockey, to be honest with you. It was two good teams. It was back and forth. It was a tight one. We were able to dig it out, and I thought we did that because we were really on our game and playing to our potential.
I wanted to talk to you a little bit about Ida (Ekholm’s fiance) and Julie Turris’ podcast. I listened for the first time a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. What have you thought about this whole process they’ve gone through with the show?
Yeah, it’s so nice to see them get the recognition that they’re getting because I think that it’s a really good thing. I think that it’s having some really good content and stuff that you’d never hear about unless this podcast would be there. So it’s an awesome thing. I think they’re doing a great job. I think it’s awesome to see they got on the NHL Network the other day and they’re getting some really good recognition. I think it’s awesome. I think it’s a great thing for them to do. And yeah, I’m just proud. That’s pretty much what it is. I think it’s really good, not just that it’s my fiance doing it or Kyle’s wife, it’s more the actual podcast. I think it’s a professional one with really good content.
We’re coming up on a year now that your son William has been around. What’s it been like to watch him grow and how has that changed you as a man?
It’s unbelievable. It’s something you think you’re ready for when he’s born, but it’s so much new stuff. There’s so much other stuff that goes on that it’s just awesome. It’s a battle. It’s a challenge with sleep and with other stuff, both for me and [Ida], and she’s taken so much responsibility back home so I have a lot to thank her for. Just to see him now where he’s getting to nine, 10, 11 months and starting to walk and starting to do all these things, it’s just awesome. When you get back from a tough game or even a good game, you kind of drop it right away when you get home. That has been something really good. I’m just happy and blessed to have a really healthy and good family.
I know he’s walking a little bit now. Is that exciting? Terrifying? A little bit of both?
Yeah, it’s both. Both, for sure. You enjoyed the stage when he was just sitting up so you can have him in one spot. And then he started crawling and then you’re chasing him around. And now he’s almost starting to walk by himself, and it’s a lot more challenging to sit still. It doesn’t happen as often anymore, but it’s just great to see him develop and learn some new stuff.
