NHL Rumors: Aaron Ekblad agrees to eight-year extension with Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers will reportedly agree to terms with defenseman Aaron Ekblad on an eight year extension that will be worth $60 million.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad has done nothing but look great ever since the Florida Panthers made him the first overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft. The 2014-15 Calder Trophy winner has been a huge part of the Panthers’ recent success. According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, Ekblad and the Panthers have agreed in principle to an eight-year extension worth $60 million.

The extension will not officially start until after next season. Ekblad still has one year left on his original entry level contract. He will carry a cap hit of $7.5 million. Because extensions cannot be signed until the start of the new league year, the extension will not become official until 12:00 noon on Friday July 1 at the earliest.

This is a great deal for both sides. Ekblad is still young enough that he will enter free agency when he is 28 years old. By then, he will most likely have set himself up nicely for an even bigger contract. Ekblad is only going to keep on getting better. Making Ekblad one of the highest paid defensemen in the NHL is a bold decision by the Panthers, but it’s one that is very likely to pay off.

Florida keeps Ekblad at an extremely reasonable price. While the $7.5 million cap hit might seem like a lot, consider that the Panthers are buying a few of Ekblad’s free agency years. It’s an overpay, but it is one that is well worth it.

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