The NHL introduced a 20-game suspension for Florida Panthers star defender Aaron Ekblad for violating the phrases of the NHL/NHLPA Efficiency Enhancing Substances Program on Monday.
The Panthers right-handed capturing defender sometimes performs with Gustav Forsling. The pair has earned 54.5% of the anticipated targets this season when on the ice for Florida, in accordance with Pure Stat Trick.
Ekblad has already acknowledged the failed take a look at and his half in it in a assertion launched shortly after the announcement of the suspension:
“Because the NHL introduced, I’ve been suspended for violating the NHL/NHLPA Efficiency Enhancing Substances Program. The information that I had failed a random drug take a look at was a shock. In the end, I made a mistake by taking one thing to assist me get better from latest accidents with out first checking with correct medical and workforce personnel.
I’ve let my teammates, the Panthers group and our nice followers down. For that, I’m really sorry. I’ve accepted accountability for my mistake and will probably be totally ready to return to my workforce when my suspension is over. I’ve discovered a tough lesson and can’t wait to be again with my teammates.”
18 video games stay within the common season for the Panthers, who at present lead the Atlantic Division by 4 factors. They may very well be with out Ekblad for the beginning of the playoffs because of this.
Ekblad, standing at 6-foot-4 and 220 kilos, is within the closing season of an eight-year deal price a mean of $7.5M per season. He has been an integral a part of the Panthers rise from irrelevance since being the No. 1 decide of the 2014 NHL Draft. His play has helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup appearances and a 2024 Cup win in seven video games over the Edmonton Oilers.
Ekblad has had damage points prior to now. He has not performed close to a full season for the reason that COVID-shortened 2019-20 season when he suited up in 67 of 69 video games. He has not performed in all 82 common season video games since 2018-19.
He has had a robust season with 33 factors (3g, 30a) in 56 video games whereas grading out favorably in almost all superior possession metrics. He’s the third-most utilized defender at 5-on-5 averaging 17:19 per recreation.
The previous No. 1 total choice’s future with the workforce had already been known as into query by the latest acquisition of disgruntled defender Seth Jones. Jones compelled his approach out of Chicago whereas solely within the third-year of an eight-year contract. He performs the identical place as Ekblad and is signed for 5 extra years at a smaller cap hit ($7M) due to Chicago retaining a portion ($2.5M) of the yearly cap hit within the commerce.
In the meantime, the wage cap is rising quicker than anticipated — set for $95.5M subsequent season with the likelihood Ekblad is at or close to the highest of the protection market.
PuckPedia tasks Florida with $19M in cap area for subsequent season with out Ekblad underneath contract. A deal is not out of the query, however Florida can also be hoping to increase heart Sam Bennett. It is also not clear in the event that they intend to supply a contract extension to newly acquired winger Brad Marchand.
Within the commerce for Jones, Florida dealt backup goaltender Spencer Knight, leaving no clear candidate for subsequent season in that place.
