Panthers GM Bill Zito may have major trade chip in veteran Aaron Ekblad
The Florida Panthers are looking to defend their Stanley Cup crown in 2024/25, and they may achieve that by trading long-time star Aaron Ekblad.
Aaron Ekblad has been a critical part of the Florida Panthers organization for the longest time, with the former No. 1 overall pick skating in 676 games with the team in the past decade. Now, rumours continue to fly around his future, as there have been more reports that he could become a huge trade chip for Florida GM Bill Zito ahead of their Stanley Cup defense in 2024/25.
"For the Cup-champion Panthers, it's quite difficult to give the 'hot seat' label to any member of the franchise. GM Bill Zito has locked up most of the players who won the championship to at least the upcoming NHL season, but if there is anyone who's somewhat unsettled over the long haul, it's Ekblad, who is entering a contract season in 2024-25 and earning $7.5 million. The Panthers can fit Ekblad under the salary cap ceiling this coming year, but if Zito is being proactive as he often is, moving Ekblad at some point before the next trade deadline makes a lot of sense." Proteau said.
He added, "Zito might be waiting until the NHL's trade deadline to ratchet up the asking price for Ekblad, but it's difficult to envision Ekblad getting a seven or eight-year contract extension with the Panthers. Florida's embarrassment of riches throughout the lineup means very few, if any players are untouchable. And Ekblad � who has a modified no-trade clause allowing him to veto a deal to 12 teams of his choosing � can help choose his own exit route from the Panthers. Now that he's been on a Cup winner, Ekblad doesn't have anything to prove to anyone, but he's still got a long road ahead in his NHL career, and the reality is the rest of his NHL days may not be spent with Florida."
He added, "Zito might be waiting until the NHL's trade deadline to ratchet up the asking price for Ekblad, but it's difficult to envision Ekblad getting a seven or eight-year contract extension with the Panthers. Florida's embarrassment of riches throughout the lineup means very few, if any players are untouchable. And Ekblad � who has a modified no-trade clause allowing him to veto a deal to 12 teams of his choosing � can help choose his own exit route from the Panthers. Now that he's been on a Cup winner, Ekblad doesn't have anything to prove to anyone, but he's still got a long road ahead in his NHL career, and the reality is the rest of his NHL days may not be spent with Florida."
This now puts the pressure on the 28-year old to turn things around after a less than stellar season a year ago, and with the star blue liner set for free agency in the summer of 2025, he makes perfect sense as a trade piece.
Florida lost Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Montour on their blue line, so it's safe to say that the team would need to fill the void if they do look to move him, but as of right now, this is a story to keep a close eye on in Florida.
Source: Blade of Steel
Panthers blueliner Aaron Ekblad could be trade chip for Bill Zito this season
| POLL | ||
Will Aaron Ekblad be traded by the Panthers this season? | ||
| Yes | 49 | 55.1 % |
| No | 40 | 44.9 % |
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