The Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup title in 2024. The triumph completed a very long rebuild that started with picking Aaron Ekblad first overall in 2014. The Panthers' defenseman was outdone by Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour in the playoffs and is headed to free agency in the 2025 offseason. While he is an all-time great Panther, this might be the end of his run in Florida.
Ekblad has been bandied about in trade rumors this offseason and would make for a big move at the trade deadline. The Panthers have made big commitments to many of their top players and might not be able to afford a raise for Ekblad. The alternate captain should be on his way out before the trade deadline regardless of where the Panthers sit.
An Aaron Ekblad trade would make waves whenever it is made. The Panthers, however, would be able to survive losing him. Forsling and Montour are two viable top-four options. New addition Adam Boqvist should thrive on a better team than the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dimitry Kulikov had a great season in 2024. The defensive core is set to excel if they do move Ekblad.
The Panthers will be in a delicate situation next year with Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, and Ekblad. All three will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Losing any of them for free would not be a smart move. Ekblad can be moved with the least impact on the team.
Potential landing spots for Panthers' Aaron Ekblad.
Despite his declining form, there are plenty of teams who will take a risk on Ekblad. The New York Rangers could make this move in the offseason or at the deadline. Defenseman and captain Jacob Trouba is also rumored to be on the move after a brutal postseason. The Rangers have Adam Fox, one of the best young defensemen in the league, and just re-signed Ryan Lindgren for one more year. They should look to replace Trouba with Ekblad.
The move does not make the Rangers much younger. Instead, it will improve their backline while keeping the important veteran leadership. He would be a pure rental player, bridging a gap to the 2025 offseason where they could make a big splash on a defenseman. They should call the Panthers about Ekblad after they move on from Trouba.
The St. Louis Blues are in desperate need of defensive depth. Torey Krug might be out for the season with an ankle injury and they struggled to keep the puck out of the net last season. It could be a lost season for the Blues if they do not improve their blue line. They would be a great fit for Ekblad in 2024 and the future.
The Western Conference does not have the same depth as the East. There is a chance that the playoffs look exactly the same due to the number of rebuilding teams. The Anaheim Ducks have the young forward talent to power through the middle tier of the conference.
To do that, they should add Aaron Ekblad. Alex Killorn went from Tampa Bay to the Ducks last offseason in a similar move but he is not a defenseman. An Aaron Ekblad trade could push the Ducks into playoff contention.
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