Can the Florida Panthers pull off the improbable and retain all three of their crucial free agents?
They already locked in Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million deal. Now, the Panthers can turn their attention to Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.
Both will be costly, and Florida only has $4.9 million left in cap space. But, general manager Bill Zito is also a master of his craft, Ekblad is a Panthers lifer, and Marchand seemed to have the time of his life after an abrupt ending to his Boston Bruins tenure.
Now, the latest rumors are that Florida will retain Ekblad. According to NHL Insider Bob McKenzie, “all signs point to Aaron Ekblad and [Florida] making progress on a long-term deal.”
The money is tricky, and Ekblad could earn more on the open market than whatever he signs with the Panthers. But why leave?
He was paid handsomely (approximately $63.6 million total) during Florida’s down years in the first half of his career, and it provides him not only with home comfort but also the best chance at hoisting another Stanley Cup.
Ekblad was often criticized for his underwhelming status as a No. 1 draft pick, but he has transformed his game into a nastier, meaner version that suits the Panthers’ style. He also benefits from playing alongside arguably the best defensive defenseman in hockey in Gustav Forsling, but that is a two-way relationship.
Should Ekblad stay, Florida would have most of its core that has won back-to-back titles and would solidify them as the odds-on favorites for 2026.
