Aaron Ekblad is getting forced out of Florida!

Just days ago, the Florida Panthers acquired defenseman Seth Jones, along with a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, from the Chicago Blackhawks in return for goalie Spencer Knight and a first-rounder in either 2026 or 2027. The Hawks are retaining 26.3% of Jones’ salary to drop the annual cap hit from $9.5 million to $7 million. His deal runs through the 2029-30 season.

As the reigning Stanley Cup champion and a team with a legitimate chance to make a third consecutive Cup Final, the Panthers aren’t playing. However, going all out ahead of the trade deadline, the Panthers will be forced to make tough choices once again this summer, and ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski believes Aaron Ekblad will be the one to pay the price.

Ekblad, who is playing on an expiring contract with 31 points through 54 games in 2024-25, is more than likely going to become a trade chip or a free agency casualty.

Last summer, general manager Bill Zito put out feelers on Ekblad, who had just helped the franchise hoist its first-ever Stanley Cup.

“There was a report last summer that the Panthers were “shopping” Ekblad ahead of his contract year, but he’s on the record as wanting to remain in Florida,” Wyshynski wrote. “He also told the Miami Herald that he’s not worried about the timing of a contract extension given how [Bill] Zito waited in the past to get deals done with players such as Sam Reinhart.”

This past offseason, the Panthers parted ways with Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the back end.
The same fate could come to Ekblad, especially after the addition of Jones on the roster. However, Wyshynski does not think this is the type of move that can be done in the next few days ahead of March 7.

“It’s hard to imagine Ekblad moving on before the offseason, as the Panthers’ blue line is thin offensively, and they have designs on a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. But that’s an aggressive front office.”