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NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers preparing eight year offer for Aaron Ekblad

By Dave Stevenson

Dec 6, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) taking a shot on goal in the 3rd period at Prudential Center. Devils defeated the Panthers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) taking a shot on goal in the 3rd period at Prudential Center. Devils defeated the Panthers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Florida Panthers are reportedly going to offer 20-year-old defenseman Aaron Ekblad an eight-year deal that could be worth up to $60 million.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was the first overall pick of the Florida Panthers during the 2014 NHL Draft. Since he put on a Panthers uniform, he has been nothing short of a blessing to the Panthers. Ekblad has looked like he belongs in the NHL from the moment he stepped on the ice, winning the Calder Trophy for the 2014-15 season. He will become a restricted free agent after next season, but the Panthers don’t feel like waiting to offer him a long-term deal.

Over eight years, $60 million would give Ekblad a cap hit of $7.5 million. It would be the fifth-highest cap hit among all defensemen. That might sound like a lot of money for a 20-year-old defenseman, but it makes a ton of sense for both parties.

Should Ekblad agree to that deal, he would be 21 when it goes into effect next offseason. That means that he could enter free agency at the age of 29, which would give him a chance to cash in on two huge contracts in his career. Ekblad and his agent would surely be open to that.

For the Florida Panthers, they’d be getting eight years of Ekblad in his prime. Usually, when defensemen are signed to huge extensions, they’re a bit older than Ekblad so the teams don’t wind up getting as many prime seasons as the Panthers would likely be getting with Ekblad. Considering how good Ekblad has been in his career, $7.5 million per season is not an outrageous price if it means that the Panthers can keep him for eight seasons.

A long-term extension clearly makes sense for both sides.

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