The Florida Panthers are currently in a dogfight for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The defending Stanley Cup champions are tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot with a record of 42-24-3 with 87 points. The Panthers own the tiebreaker as they have 35 regulation wins compared to the Maple Leafs’ 34.
Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is currently out of the lineup due to a 20-game suspension and will not return to the lineup potentially until Game 3 of the first round. But even if he comes back, he may be playing in his last season in a Panthers uniform.
His Suspension Reason May Have Soured the Team
As previously mentioned, Ekblad is currently suspended from the lineup. He was found taking an illegal substance which resulted in a 20-game ban. It is the first time in his career he has been suspended.
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This may have left a bad taste in head coach Paul Maurice’s mouth, along with some of his teammates, the front office, and the fans.
“Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel,” Ekblad said. “I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.”
It is unknown what the substance was but it was illegal according to NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Seth Jones was Brought Into the Lineup with a Pre-established Contract
Just before the trade deadline, the team acquired defenseman Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2027 first-round pick. The Blackhawks retained 25% of Jones’ salary.
Jones’ current contract has five more years on it after this one. This projects him as a staple in the lineup for a longer time. This could suggest the team is planning on moving on from Ekblad and is preparing for a future without him. This is also huge considering that general manager Bill Zito worked with Jones during his time as an assistant manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He is On an Expiring Deal
Ekblad signed his current deal back in the summer of 2016 from then-general manager Tom Rowe. The eight-year deal worth $7.5 million per season is in its final season.
The Panthers are also looking to re-sign forward Sam Bennett, who is also in the final year of his contract. This is another instance where the team has to make a tough decision, much like last year with defenseman Brandon Montour and forward Sam Reinhart. There is a chance the team could choose Bennett over Ekblad for a new deal.
Ekblad’s Injury History Could be Concerning
Since coming into the league in 2014, Ekblad has played a full season only twice in his NHL career. Most of his 11-season career has been plagued with injuries, some of which have taken him out for major periods of time. As a result, they have completely altered his form.
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Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game and players, coaches, and the league can only do so much to combat their frequency of occurrence. Regardless, they play a huge part in contract negotiations, and that could negatively impact the chances of Ekblad staying in Broward County.
What’s Next for Ekblad’s Future?
The Panthers continue to bide their time until he returns to the lineup. He was a key piece to the Cup just last season and his absence is even more apparent over the last four games as they’ve allowed 12 goals in that span. It doesn’t help that the team is also going to be without defenseman Dmitry Kulikov for a number of weeks due to injury.
With his injury history and now his suspension, it feels as if he’s going to miss time in some sort of capacity, making it a gamble to play him. Zito might be looking to go out and grab someone just as reliable, especially considering how much he currently makes. As a result, we may be seeing the final days of Florida’s Calder Trophy winner don their jersey.
