Aaron Ekblad, a defenseman for the Florida Panthers, has signed an eight-year contract extension worth an average of $6.1 million, preventing him from hitting the free agent market. Despite potential offers that could have brought him millions more annually, Ekblad chose to remain with the Panthers after their consecutive Stanley Cup victories. General manager Bill Zito has prioritized retaining key players, including extending Ekblad and Sam Bennett. Ekblad's recent performance showed a downturn due to a past suspension, but he played a pivotal role in the playoffs, further solidifying his value to the team.
Ekblad's availability was also impacted during the 2024-25 campaign by a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancement substances program that carried over into the postseason.
The Panthers just won their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship after making a third consecutive trip to the Final.
He left potentially millions of dollars per season on the table to stick with Florida.
Ekblad carries over 23 minutes per game and is a presence on the power play and penalty kill.
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