Florida Panthers, Aaron Ekblad agree on eight-year extension

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will not be hitting the open market.

The Panthers and their top-pairing defenseman agreed to an eight-year extension carrying a $6.1 million common annual worth, sources informed ESPN on Monday, confirming experiences. The extension will hold Ekblad from turning into an unrestricted free agent. TSN was first to report information of the deal.

The 29-year-old blueliner would have been probably the most coveted gamers obtainable when NHL free company opens Tuesday and he left doubtlessly thousands and thousands of {dollars} per season on the desk to stay with Florida.

Ekblad had good purpose to not discover his choices. The Panthers simply gained their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship after making a 3rd consecutive journey to the Ultimate. Basic supervisor Invoice Zito has additionally prioritized taking good care of the crew’s personal, signing Sam Bennett — the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL playoff MVP — to an eight-year, $64 million extension earlier this month.

Florida initially drafted Ekblad No. 1 within the 2014 NHL draft. He has been a big contributor to their blue line ever since, amassing 118 targets and 380 factors in 732 profession video games. Ekblad’s final two common seasons have proven a downturn in manufacturing — he has managed solely seven targets and 51 factors in 107 video games — however he carries over 23 minutes per sport and is a presence on the ability play and penalty kill.

Ekblad’s availability was additionally affected throughout the 2024-25 season by a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA efficiency enhancement substances program that carried over into the postseason.

The playoffs had been the place Ekblad started to shine once more as a high contributor, recording 4 targets and 13 factors in 19 video games as Florida beat Edmonton for a second straight season within the Ultimate.

Now that Zito has dedicated to Ekblad and Bennett, there is a query of whether or not the membership’s different key pending free agent — ahead Brad Marchand — may also be sticking round. Marchand was acquired by Florida forward of the March commerce deadline and was integral to their playoff success, accumulating 10 targets and 20 factors in 23 video games.

The Panthers at the moment have $4.9 million in cap house obtainable for the approaching season, in line with Puckpedia.