George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — A healthy Aaron Ekblad has been a return to the best version of Aaron Ekblad for the Florida Panthers this season.
Ekblad, 29, credits his strong start to being able to go into the summer without needing surgery or having a nagging injury slow him down.
Yes, it was a short offseason — he and the Panthers will take those from now on — but one he was able to build on the momentum of a very impactful playoff run and carry that into this season.
This is a big year for Ekblad, no one can ignore that.
In the final season of the eight-year contract he signed with the Panthers in 2016, Ekblad needed the kind of start he is off to as he works toward getting a new deal.
“I just feel great. I had a good summer,” Ekblad told FHN on Saturday, not long after his first goal of the season turned out to be the game-winner in a 6-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
“Not being severely injured or having surgery certainly helped.
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“It was nice to actually be in good shape and have the opportunity to work on and improve my game. The short offseason was great because it was eight weeks in the gym, a straight trajectory. There was no plateauing. And, there was no lack of motivation in the gym. We never lost that high.’’
After Carter Verhaeghe signed his eight-year contract extension on Opening Night, focus turned toward Sam Bennett and Ekblad, Florida’s other high-profile pending free agents.
Although there is nothing to report on either, the Panthers want to keep both players moving forward — and there is little doubt both want to stay.
Especially in Ekblad’s case.
The Panthers, after all, are the only NHL team he has ever played for.
The kid from Windsor, Ontario, has become a true South Florida guy since the Panthers made him the top pick of the 2014 NHL Draft.
On Friday, Ekblad played in his 700th game joining Sasha Barkov as the only players in franchise history to play that many games with the Panthers.
He and Barkov joined the Panthers a year apart — Barkov was the second-overall pick in 2013 — and the two will forever be linked in franchise lore.
The two won the Stanley Cup together with the Panthers in June, a feat that few could have imagined when they were first starting out with the team.
together.
“This is the best feeling of my life so far,” Ekblad said after Game 7. “I have been following Barky’s footsteps for the past 10 years and hopefully we can do it again together.
“We did it. We are champions and no one can take that away from us. I can’t wait for that 20-year reunion with the boys. That’s going to be incredible.”
When it comes to this season, Ekblad is off to a quietly strong start.
Quiet because of his offense — not the way he is playing on the defensive side.
In his first five seasons with the Panthers, Ekblad averaged 13.2 goals and was named to a pair of All-Star Games.
Ekblad had four goals in 51 regular-season games last year after missing the first 18 games after needing numerous surgeries following Florida’s run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
His 12 assists this season already eclipses last year’s total of 11.
“The way we appreciate defensemen has changed over the years, and it is skewed to points now,’’ coach Paul Maurice said. “When Aaron came into the league, he was that player. He was quite a point producer for a while. But he has been a big part in [Florida’s] change in style of play.
“He is a spectacular defender. He and Gus are a fantastic pair … and I appreciate that. There is a sacrifice that goes with that when you think of players up for a contract, and these guys now all get paid on points. There is a sacrifice for him to put our team first, the defense first. He has done that.’’
Yes, the defensive duo of Ekblad and Gus Forsling continue to be one of the strongest pairings in the NHL.
According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the two have played the fourth-most amount of minutes together in the NHL and the 13 goals against on 5-on-5 is among the lowest of all defensive pairs.
“When you go up against the best players in the world every night, no matter what, you have to be right on the defensive side of it,’’ Ekblad said. “You cannot cheat at all. It is a part of what I am doing. Yes, I am still getting up in the rush and trying to score. I have hit five posts this year. It happens.’’
The expectation is that Ekblad’s offensive stats will rise. He has been getting opportunities and was recently reinstated to Florida’s top power-play unit.
He got his first goal Saturday. More are coming.
And if they do not, well, that’s not going to affect what he does best.
“It does feel amazing to get one, but it is not necessarily my job to score goals even though it was a big part of who I was as a player for a long time,’’ Ekblad said.
“But it was nice to see one go in.’’