The defending Stanley Cup champions will have lofty expectations placed on them heading into the 2024-25 season. General Manager Bill Zito lost Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on their blue line this summer, replacing the pair with Nate Schmidt and Adam Boqvist, while Jaycob Megna will also play a role on the back end throughout the year.
While the Panthers' blue line is locked in at least to start the 2024-25 season, aside from who slots in where on opening night, could we see Bill Zito move on from one of the team's big names on defence?
In a recent article on The Hockey News examining players/staff members that could be on the hot seat, Adam Proteau named Aaron Ekblad as a trade option for the Florida Panthers before the deadline, which is yet to be announced.
Proteau added that Ekblad, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, could get the Panthers a huge return in a trade, given that he's only 28 years old and still in the prime of his career. Bill Zito hasn't been afraid to off-load big names via trade in the past, most notably Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames in 2022.
Ekblad, 28, was selected first overall by the Panthers back in 2014 but has dealt with his fair share of injuries in recent years. In 2023-24, he was limited to just 51 games during the regular season due to lower-body injuries and put up 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) the lowest in a single season of his NHL career so far.
We'll have to wait and see how this story unfolds during the 2024-25 season and if the Panthers decide to shop Ekblad closer to the deadline in early 2025. Ekblad became eligible to sign a contract extension back on July 1st, but it doesn't seem that either side is in any rush to agree to terms on a deal and we could see Ekblad in a different uniform later on in the 2024-25 campaign.
Source: Adam Proteau/The Hockey NewsNHL Hot Seat Radar: Ekblad Under Pressure Entering Contract Year, While GM Zito Sits Comfy with Cup-Champion Panthers
POLL | ||
31 JUILLET | 38 ANSWERS Panthers blueliner Aaron Ekblad could be trade chip for Bill Zito this season Will the Florida Panthers trade Aaron Ekblad next season? | ||
Yes. He has to go | 21 | 55.3 % |
No. He's too important | 17 | 44.7 % |
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