The Florida Panthers are once again Stanley Cup champions. Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row. Their 5-1 win on Tuesday night brought the Cup back to Sunrise. And it further cemented the legacy of defenseman Aaron Ekblad with the Panthers.
Ekblad is a former first-overall pick of this franchise from 2014. He made his debut in the 2014-15 season and has spent his entire career with this franchise. No defenseman in the history of the Panthers has played more games (732), scored more goals (118), or scored more points (380).
However, his time in Sunrise could come to an end this summer. Ekblad is a free agent in two weeks once the market opens on July 1. He will certainly have a ton of interested teams after him on the open market. The Panthers are certain to be one of these teams.
For now, the veteran defender is not worried about his contract. He is enjoying his second straight Stanley Cup championship. In saying this, he is aware of what is to come over these next few weeks.
“It’s a special team, a special organization, from top to bottom, everybody just does the work every day,” Ekblad said, via NHL.com’s Editor-in-Chief Bill Price. “So it’s a special team with special players that’ll do anything. Maybe however many years down the road, you’ll realize you know what guys went through.”
Aaron Ekblad Hopes to Remain With Panthers
Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesAaron Ekblad has some tough decisions to make ahead of 2025 NHL Free Agency.
Ekblad did not speak too much about his future. He doesn’t know exactly what the coming weeks will hold. And he is celebrating a championship either way. However, he did mention that he hopes Game 6 on Tuesday night was not his final game in Florida.
“I sure hope not,” Ekblad said, via Price.
He did take time to discuss what this organization means to him, though. As mentioned, this is the only team Ekblad has known. The Panthers drafted and developed him, and they have left an indelible mark on him as a player and person.
“It’s a special team, a special organization, from top to bottom, everybody just does the work every day,” Ekblad said. “So it’s a special team with special players that’ll do anything. Maybe however many years down the road, you’ll realize you know what guys went through.”
Panthers Hope to Keep Everyone Together
Ekblad is not the only notable player about to hit free agency. 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett is about to hit the open market. Veteran forward Brad Marchand is also set to become a free agent on July 1.
The Panthers — like Ekblad — have some tough decisions to make. It will be hard to keep everyone together. But if the team can pull it off, their teammates hope it happens.
“I hope all of our guys stay,” forward Carter Verhaeghe said, via Price. “We have such a tight bond. But that’s the thing: Every year you lose friends and teammates and it [stinks]. For ‘Ecky’ and [Sam Bennett], a bunch of our guys are free agents. And I hope they stay.”
Panthers’ Ekblad Preparing for ‘Tough’ Conversations After 2nd Stanley Cup