Panthers place Aaron Ekblad on the trade market after winning the Stanley Cup

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Graham Montgomery
June 28, 2024 (8:42)

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NHL insider David Pagnotta revealed today that the Florida Panthers are shopping veteran defenseman Aaron Ekblad just days after they won the Stanley Cup.

Ekblad was famously picked 1st overall in the 2014 NHL draft. Since then, he has had a very successful career, although he perhaps has not scored as many points as people thought he might. Still though, he has nearly 700 career games played and just under 350 career points, a Calder trophy, and now, a Stanley Cup.

He has one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers which comes at a 7.5 million dollar cap hit.

According to multiple well-placed sources, the Panthers are shopping 2014 first-overall pick Aaron Ekblad, who is entering the final year of his contract, and have already had discussions with some teams about his availability.

Ekblad, 28, will see his full no-movement clause shift to a 12-team no-trade list July 1, when he is also due a $3 million signing bonus.

Ekblad was good for the Panthers in the playoffs this season, but also arguably disappointing. He had just 6 points in 24 contests and averaged more than a giveaway per game, with just two takeaways to make up for it.

He also logged his lowest average time on ice per game in these playoffs in his career, although he still played more than 22 minutes a night. Still though, it is not clear exactly what his value might be considering how this season went for him.

NEW: The NHL trade market is heating up and there's a new name popping up among those who are being made available.

Longtime Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad may be on the move this summer.

#TimeToHunt story @TheHockeyNews ⬇️

Pagnotta has also reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams that have expressed interest in Aaron Ekblad. The team has also been linked to pending free agent Brandon Montour, who nearly doubled Ekblad's scoring in the playoffs.

With 11 pending unrestricted free agents on the roster, the Panthers appear to be shopping D Aaron Ekblad.

The Leafs, along with several teams, are interested in the Panthers Defenceman.

[via: @TheFourthPeriod]

#leafsforever

The list of defenseman linked to the Maple Leafs continues to grow. Be sure to tune in this summer to see which ones actually end up with the Leafs.