Ekblad picked up an assist while adding three shots on net, two blocked shots, two hits, two PIM and a plus-1 rating in Tuesday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs.
The point was his first in six games since making his belated season debut following summer shoulder surgery. Ekblad is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued campaign in which he managed only 38 points in 71 games, but even if he's able to stay healthy for the rest of this season, he could have trouble returning to the near point-per-game pace he produced in 2021-22 without regaining his spot on the top power-play unit from Brandon Montour.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Removed from injured reserve
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Ekblad (shoulder) has been taken off injured reserve ahead of Friday's matchup with Anaheim, per the NHL media site.
Ekblad looks set to make his season debut against the Ducks. Last season, the Ontario native managed 14 goals and 24 helpers, a significant drop in production from 2021-22 when he racked up 57 points. Ekblad should immediately see minutes with the man advantage after recording 19 of his 38 points last year on the power play.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Could return during road trip
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Ekblad (shoulder) may be available to play before the end of Florida's three-game road trip, per Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.
Coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that Friday's contest versus Anaheim could be a potential return date for Ekblad and Brandon Montour (shoulder). Ekblad hasn't played yet in 2023-24 following offseason shoulder surgery. He racked up 14 goals, 38 points, 216 shots on net, 80 blocked shots and 77 hits in 71 games last season.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Returning to practice Sunday
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Ekblad (shoulder) will practice with the Panthers on Sunday and accompany the team on next week's road trip, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The blueliner will be in a non-contact jersey Sunday as he takes a significant step forward in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. Coach Paul Maurice indicated Saturday that both Ekblad and Brandon Montour (shoulder) could be back in the lineup by the end of November, rather than the mid-December timeline the two defensemen were originally given.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Moves to long-term injured reserve
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Ekblad (shoulder) was placed on long-term injured reserve on Tuesday, per PuckPedia.
Ekblad's move to LTIR shouldn't have an impact on his recovery schedule from shoulder surgery -- he's already been ruled out for at least the first month of the season. The Panthers now have a bit more wiggle room with the salary cap. Look for Gustav Forsling and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to see larger roles in early going.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Won't be ready at start of season
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Ekblad (shoulder) is expected to be available at some point between November and January, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
General manager Bill Zito declined to give a specific timeline, but mentioned that both Ekblad and Brandon Montour (shoulder) will be out of action in October. Ekblad is recovering from shoulder surgery while also on the mend from a broken foot and an oblique tear that he played through in the postseason. With Ekblad out to begin the season, Gustav Forsling figures to take on a larger role in all situations, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson could be a candidate to pick up some power-play time.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Will undergo shoulder surgery
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Ekblad, who also played through a broken foot and an oblique tear during the playoffs, will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the start of training camp, per Tim Reynolds of Associated Press.
Despite all the injuries, Ekblad had two goals, eight points, 20 PIM, 36 hits and 29 blocks in 20 playoff games while averaging 23:57 of ice time. The 27-year-old is a threat to record over 40 points in 2023-24 if he plays the full season, but his recovery from multiple injuries might throw a wrench in that. He's set to enter the seventh campaign of his eight-year, $60 million contract.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Dealt with multiple injuries
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Ekblad played through a broken foot, two shoulder dislocations and an oblique tear during the playoffs, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
The broken foot occurred during the first round, where Ekblad missed Game 4 versus the Bruins. That was his only absence during the playoffs, and he finished with two goals and six assists in 20 contests. Given the severity of the various injuries -- most notably the oblique tear -- the defenseman could be in danger of missing the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Notches assist
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Ekblad produced an assist, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Golden Knights in Game 3.
Ekblad helped out on Matthew Tkachuk's game-tying goal late in the third period. This was just Ekblad's second assist in seven games since the start of the Eastern Conference Finals. The 27-year-old defenseman hasn't been as big of a contributor from the blue line as usual with seven points in 18 playoff appearances. He's added 24 shots on net, 31 hits, 27 blocked shots and a plus-9 rating.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Two-point effort in clinching win
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Ekblad scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Friday's 3-2 overtime win over the Maple Leafs in Game 5 of the Panthers' second-round series.
The blueliner opened the scoring early in the first period, putting Toronto back on its heels in a game during which Florida never trailed. It's the second multi-point performance in the last three games for Ekblad, and he wraps up the five-game series against the Leafs with one goal and five points -- a remarkable turnaround after he failed to find the scoresheet at all in the first round against the Bruins. Ekblad may need to stay productive if the Panthers are going to get through the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Two helpers in Game 3 win
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Ekblad recorded a pair of assists in Sunday's 3-2 overtime victory over Toronto.
Ekblad set up Anthony Duclair's power-play tally early in the second period, tying the game 1-1, before picking up an assist on Sam Reinhart's winner in overtime. It had been a quiet postseason for Ekblad prior to Sunday's contest, with just one point in his first eight games. The 27-year-old blueliner is also coming off a down regular season offensively, with 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 71 games. Ekblad will look to build on Sunday's two-point effort, though his value is somewhat capped now with Brandon Montour taking over the point on Florida's top power-play unit.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Earns assist Tuesday
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Ekblad registered an assist in Tuesday's Game 1 win over the Maple Leafs.
It was the first postseason point for Ekblad after he was held off the score sheet in six games against the Bruins. After setting career highs in assists and points in 2021-22, the 27-year-old blueliner's production came back down to normal levels with 14 goals and 38 points in 71 regular-season outings. It seems that drop in production has carried into the playoffs, though perhaps Tuesday's helper will spark Ekblad's offensive game.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Good to go for Game 5
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Ekblad (undisclosed) will return to action Wednesday for Game 5 versus Boston, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Ekblad should return to a top-pairing role and a spot on the No. 1 power-play unit for Wednesday's must-win contest. He's been held scoreless through three games thus far this postseason.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Out Sunday
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Ekblad (undisclosed) is not available for Game 4 against Boston on Sunday, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Ekblad was injured Friday but he's been on the ice since, suggesting that he likely isn't dealing with a long-term issue. He'll get some extra time to recover before Wednesday's Game 5 matchup back in Boston. Casey Fitzgerald is expected to dress in Ekbladk's absence Sunday.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Game-time decision Sunday
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Ekblad (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision versus Boston on Sunday, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Ekblad departed just past the halfway mark of the second period and did not return Friday. He practiced in a full-contact jersey Saturday, and coach Paul Maurice said after practice that Ekblad would be a game-time decision. Ekblad had 14 goals and 24 assists in 71 regular-season contests, but he has yet to garner a point in two playoff games.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Takes part in morning skate
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Ekblad (undisclosed) skated Saturday morning in a regular jersey, per George Richards of Florida Hockey Now.
Ekblad left Friday's contest with an undisclosed injury, so his presence at Saturday's practice is a positive sign. Still, the 27-year-old defenseman should be considered questionable for Game 4 on Sunday. Ekblad has yet to record a point in Florida's opening series against the Bruins after tallying 14 goals and 38 points during the regular season.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: No update after game
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Ekblad (undisclosed) left Friday's game against Boston and there was no update available afterward, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
Ekblad totaled just 13:29 of ice time before exiting the game. The team expects to know more about his status after further evaluation Tuesday. If he misses any time, Casey Fitzgerald could join the lineup.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Scores power-play goal
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Ekblad scored a goal on four shots, helping the Panthers to a 2-1 win over the Sabres on Tuesday.
Ekblad fired a shot that hit the post and off Devon Levi to tie the game at 1-1. This goal extends Ekblad's point streak to five games with five points in that span. On the season, the first-overall pick from 2014 has 12 goals and 34 points in 66 games.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Strikes twice in Thursday's win
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Ekblad scored two goals, one on the power play, in Thursday's 9-5 win over the Canadiens.
His first tally of the night came a little over nine minutes into the first period and broke open what was already a 3-3 tie -- the first 20 minutes ended up seeing an incredible 10 goals in total, including a franchise-record seven by the Panthers. Ekblad had just one point, a goal, in his prior 12 contests, and the talented blueliner has 12 goals but only 30 points through 57 games on the season -- a far cry from the near point-a-game pace he managed in 2021-22.
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Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Ends slump with power-play tally
Rotowire
Ekblad earned a power-play goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Penguins.
Ekblad snapped out of an eight-game point drought and now has 10 goals and 18 assists through 53 contests, which mirrors his career points-per-game average (0.53). The venerable defenseman also has 14 points on the power play, as he's become a perennial double-digit producer in that key special teams spot. Florida desperately needs its top offensive weapons like Ekblad to pick up the pace as the team has a lot of work to do before it can sneak into the playoff picture.
