Aaron Ekblad took a quiet moment to absorb the scenes unfolding around him at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night. His Florida Panthers had just clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup title, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5–1 in Game 6 of the Final.
All around him, players, staff, family, and friends celebrated what’s becoming a golden era for the franchise. But for Ekblad, who becomes a free agent in the off-season, it was also a time for reflection.
“I mean obviously, I don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m not much in control of that at the moment,” he said. “To live in the moment right now is the most important [thing] for me, and when the time comes, I’m sure those tough conversations will be had.”
Ekblad has been a cornerstone of the franchise. Drafted first overall in 2014, the 29-year-old is second only to captain Aleksander Barkov in all-time games played for Florida (732). Among defensemen, he’s unmatched in goals (118), assists (262), and points (380).
This season he registered 33 points in 56 games, and added 13 more in the playoffs. He also served a 20-game suspension starting in March after breaching the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program – a ban that extended into the opening rounds of the playoffs.
When asked if this could be his final game in a Panthers jersey, he said, “I sure hope not.”
The loyalty runs deep.
“It’s a special team, a special organization, from top to bottom, everybody just does the work every day,” Ekblad said. “So it’s a special team with special players that’ll do anything. Maybe however many years down the road, you’ll realize you know what guys went through.”
His early years with the team were tough, with only one playoff appearance in his first five seasons. But since 2020, Florida has reached the playoffs every year – and the Cup Final three times in a row.
“I might regret it later, but it almost feels normal, like it’s where we’re meant to be,” Ekblad said. “And we believe that, as a team, that we’re meant to be here, and we’re going to keep doing it.”
Keeping the core together, though, will be a challenge. Ekblad, Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett, and forward Brad Marchand are all pending free agents.
“I hope all of our guys stay,” said forward Carter Verhaeghe. “We have such a tight bond. But that’s the thing: Every year you lose friends and teammates and it [stinks]. For ‘Ecky’ and [Sam Bennett], a bunch of our guys are free agents. And I hope they stay.’’
Ekblad’s defensive partner, Gustav Forsling, made his stance clear: “No. He’s going to be a Panther for life. I really hope so, and I believe so. I love playing with him.’’
Ekblad echoed the sentiment.
“It’s a tight-knit group,” he said. “This organization does everything for the players. And it’s a special place to be, a special franchise, and I don’t think there’s a better one in the League.”
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
