The Florida Panthers are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and one of their key players, Aaron Ekblad, has been involved in trade rumors.
Ekblad, who was drafted first overall by the Panthers in the 2014 NHL draft, is about to enter the final year of his eight-year, $60 million contract. With only one year left on his deal, his name has surfaced in trade discussions.
The website PuckPedia features a tool called PuckGM that allows users to create their own trades, and one user proposed a deal in which the Detroit Red Wings acquire Ekblad in a blockbuster trade.
Red Wings get:
- Aaron Ekblad
Panthers get:
- Ben Chiarot
- 2026 second-round pick
Although the return for Ekblad might initially seem modest, Chiarot has two years left on his contract and earns $2.7 million less than Ekblad. This additional cap space would enable Florida to add another player to enhance their roster depth, while also gaining a second-round pick that they can either use in a trade or keep.
Chiarot would help fill the void left by Ekblad and maintain the Panthers’ strong defense. Last season with the Red Wings, Chiarot recorded 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 77 games.
The Red Wings, on the other hand, would significantly strengthen their defense by acquiring Ekblad, one of the top defensemen in the NHL. Ekblad recorded 1 goal and 14 assists for 18 points in 51 games. The former first-overall pick could slot into the second pairing on the right side behind Moritz Seider, giving Detroit one of the best defensive corps in the NHL.
Ekblad Named as a Trade Candidate
Ekblad has been a cornerstone player for the Panthers since being selected first overall in 2014. However, with Ekblad entering the final year of his contract, NHL insider David Pagnotta mentioned him as a trade candidate this summer.
“According to multiple well-placed sources, the Panthers are shopping 2014 first-overall pick Aaron Ekblad, who is entering the final year of his contract, and have already had discussions with some teams about his availability. Ekblad, 28, will see his full no-movement clause shift to a 12-team no-trade list on July 1, when he is also due a $3 million signing bonus,” Pagnotta wrote in his June 27 article.
If Ekblad is indeed available for trade, several teams will likely show interest in acquiring the defenseman.
Red Wings Still Need to Sign 2 Key RFAs
Detroit has had a productive offseason, notably signing Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. However, the Red Wings still need to sign star forward Lucas Raymond and star defenseman Moritz Seider, both of whom are restricted free agents (RFAs). Detroit’s GM Steve Yzerman has indicated he is open to both long-term and short-term deals for both players.
“I guess I would leave it to you to judge for yourself—there’s a lot of them out there, how many of them are proving value to the team?” Yzerman said to The Athletic. “And then you look at, ‘OK, how much more would they get if they were unrestricted free agents?’ The term and the dollar have to work for both parties. And you have to pay a player enough that he’s willing to lock up to give you eight years, but also it can be dangerous if you’re paying an extreme premium for potential.
“Because a lot of times it can be difficult, and if you don’t have a cap issue or any concerns, then you don’t worry about it as much. But those deals can create cap issues, as well. I’m certainly open to it. The term, the dollar amount has to work for both parties, and that can be a challenge at times.”
Raymond and Seider are two of Detroit’s top players and both are former first-round picks.
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