When looking through the Florida Panthers' current roster, you'll notice an impressive cast of stars. Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sergei Bobrovsky, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and a few others stand out and have represented the core that has paved the way for the unprecedented success of the Panthers. However, there is one player that can be easily overlooked.
That player is defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The 29-year-old has had a fine career up to this point. After being selected with the first overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft by Florida, Ekblad has gone on to accomplish several great individual feats. He was awarded the 2015 Calder Trophy, given to the league's top rookie.
He played in back-to-back NHL All-Star Games in 2015 and 2016. In some years, he's even been on the ballot to receive the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defenseman. As of now, the native of Windsor, Ontario, ranks high in franchise history in several major statistical categories. Ekblad ranks second in games played(732).
Aaron is also tenth in goals(118), third in assists(262), fifth in points(380), third in plus/minus(96), eighth in power-play goals(41), third in game-winning goals(26), third in shots(1,794), third in point shares(70.3), and first in defensive point shares(39.8). Finally, he was arguably the Panthers' top blueliner during their remarkable 2024 Stanley Cup title run.
He's also shown to have a great character as well as a ridiculous amount of toughness. It's easy to forget this now, but two years ago, during the Panthers' first run to the Stanley Cup Final with this core in 2023, the former Barrie Colt played through three painful ailments. In their iconic seven-game first-round upset over Boston, Ekblad broke his foot.
He also had two shoulder separations and suffered an oblique tear. That was all in one playoff run, the deepest of his career up to that point. Yet, despite his accomplishments and courage, Ekblad remains the most polarizing player on the Panthers. Since he arrived in South Florida, the fan base has had varying opinions of him as a player.
Why is that? Well, the d-man has had his fair share of bad moments. That's the case with every NHL player, but the bad moments of his career have always led to backbreaking turns of fate for the team. He has had ugly turnovers that have led to goals for the opposition. He can be and look a little clumsy when he's on the ice at times. He's been prone to making some bad decisions.
Take a recent play from Game 1 of this year's Eastern Conference Final against the Hurricanes. In the clip above, it's not immediately evident. However, if you watched the game, you know what happened here. Late in the first period, Ekblad saw Sam Bennett in the offensive zone, unattended. Getting a little too greedy, he tried to chip the puck over the Carolina defense so Bennett could get a breakaway.
Instead, it went poorly. Seth Jarvis prevented Ekblad from completing the pass. He then caused a turnover, and the rest is history. That would've been a crusher if the Panthers had not taken over the game in the following periods. That was the one blemish to what was a great first period. So yes, he makes mistakes, plenty of them.
Another reason why devotees of the Panthers always question the talented defenseman is because of his availability. It was mentioned earlier how he played through three severe ailments. Unfortunately, injuries have become a theme of Ekblad's career. In the disastrous and tumultuous 2016-17 season, he missed 14 games. However, that hasn't been like what has occurred in recent years.
Since his age-24 season in 2020-21, Ekblad has missed substantial time healing from his injuries. In the shortened 56-game campaign of 2021, he only played in 35 contests. In 2021-22, he missed 21 games. Two years later, in the championship season, the hobbled and injured skater missed 31 matches.
Now, this year, Ekblad only played in 56 regular-season games. A large chunk of that missed action was because of his PED suspension, that lasted 20 games. He hasn't played an entire 82-game slate since 2018-19, his fifth professional season. So, yes, there are concerns on the part of Florida fans, and for good reason.
However, don't let that couple of negatives fool you. When Aaron Ekblad is on, he's one of the best and most capable defensemen in the NHL. Is he a top-10 player at his position? Of course not, but how many people are? That doesn't matter. All that matters is if a player shows up and plays his best when the lights are the brightest. In recent years, this guy has done that.
In 74 career playoff games, Ekblad has recorded 29 points(7 G, 22 A). A few of the goals he's scored have been big as well. For instance, take Game 2 of the first round against the Washington Capitals in 2022. It was the then 25-year-old who got the scoring started. He took a slap shot that ricocheted off a Washington defender and went in. This led to a win for Florida.
Ultimately, the Cats would earn their first postseason series victory since 1996 in this series. Still not doing it for you? Well, how about next year? Remember Sam Reinhart's iconic overtime winner in Game 3 of the second round against Toronto? Guess who started the play?
A few games later, yours truly would score first in the contest that would get the Panthers into the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1996.
These current playoffs of 2025 have seen the 11th-year veteran score three goals, the most of any playoff year of his career. His first goal was in Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. If you need a refresher on that contest, Florida trailed 2-1 late in the final period and came dangerously close to failing in capitalizing on a 2-0 series lead gained on the road.
Again, Ekblad was here for the surprise rescue. He scored to tie the game, and 11 seconds later, fellow defenseman Seth Jones scored to give the Cats the goal that would give them a lead they would never relinquish.
Against Toronto in the next round, the Canadian tallied the first goal in Florida's 6-1 demolition of the Leafs. He went top-shelf over Joseph Woll, which makes this one of the prettier goals he has ever scored.
Most recently, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against Carolina, Ekblad bolstered the Cats' lead with a first-period goal, four minutes after Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring on the power-play. This would lead to the first of two blowout wins in Raleigh.
Aaron Ekblad is a player who has proven to be useful and effective in a winning situation. He has gone through lots of adversity throughout his career. He's gotten lots of criticism from people in the hockey world, to the point where he doesn't even allow for mentions on his Instagram account. He might be a little sensitive to that, and much of it can be unfair at times.
Florida fans have complained a lot about him. Sometimes it's been right. Sometimes it's been wrong. However, you can't overlook his importance to this franchise. As of 2025, if you ask anyone, Panthers fan or not, many would tell you that he is the greatest defenseman in franchise history. Pairing partner Gustav Forsling could surpass him for the honor one day.
Regardless of whether Aaron Ekblad has made you rip your hair out or not, he should get your respect. He is not a player that should be taken for granted. Without him, would the Panthers have even won the Stanley Cup last year? Not to scare any Panthers fans, but the greatest blueliner in team history is on the last year of his contract.
He may not be playing in a Panthers uniform for much longer. So, as a piece of advice, enjoy him and his amazing playoff beard while he's still here. Aaron Ekblad is just as important to this recent run of success for the Panthers as any other player in that locker room. This franchise went decades without having elite talent. Enjoy it while you have it.