Aaron Ekblad discussion thread

[TheImpatientPanther]

If Seth Jones can return a decent haul, Aaron Ekblad can.

 

[Gentle Man]

Sad reality of the Ekblad contract that the PC Boyz handed him is he has been sub-optimal for most of it

2017-18 - Horrific
2018-19 - Bad
2019-20 - sub-par
2020-21 - Elite
2021-22 - Elite
This year- bad

And by extension, he actually signed that contract before the 2016-17 season started. And that season he signed that contract was his absolute worst for us. He got that concussion during the World Tournament and that was his first time playing WITHOUT Brian Campbell.

He has two more years to improve but at the same time, the options out there arent that great. They never are for a "Number 1 D-Man."

You have to play it out next season and hopefully he improves and then the following season you have to see if he is worth re-upping. And by his trajectory thus far, the salary you have to give him HAS to be lower than the 10.27 cap hit percentage that he signed for back in 2017-18. If the cap increases, hell he might end up with the same amount of money but you cannot give him a long term deal.

But sad to say next year is a prove it, do or die for him. If he is sub-par or bad again, then you just cannot extend him at all. You cannot get 2 elite years out of 8 from your supposed, best defenseman.

Maybe, just maybe this is his adjustment period playing without Weegar. Same thing to what happened to him when he lost Soupy as his partner, maybe he takes a season to get used to it. But again, that is unacceptable for your best d-man.

 

[ScottyMascotty]

lol. Even as Weegar is being mediocre as all hell in Calgary people still can't stop with this shit.

Weegar is actually very good analytically in Calgary (especially considering defensive numbers). He is not producing as many points as in Florida, though. Also, look at "role difficulty" graph.

 

[Gentle Man]

Weegar is actually very good analytically in Calgary (especially considering defensive numbers). He is not producing as many points as in Florida, though. Also, look at "role difficulty" graph.

Is he our #1 DMan or not? I feel like role difficulty should come with the job.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

2020-21 - Elite
2021-22 - Elite

That's a negative. His point production might indicate that but eye ball-test and the fancy stats tell us that he's been a mere top4 dman during those two seasons. In this season he's arguably been our worst dman and that conclusion doesn't even take into consideration his salary.

You have to play it out next season and hopefully he improves and then the following season you have to see if he is worth re-upping.

The only way Ekblad is going to get a contract extension (which is going to be some +9milx7 deal) from Zito is that he plays the full schedule of 82 games and he's the best dman in the league. Quite frankly, I don't see his mini-rink helping much to achieve that.

 

[Gentle Man]

That's a negative. His point production might indicate that but eye ball-test and the fancy stats tell us that he's been a mere top4 dman during those two seasons. In this season he's arguably been our worst dman and that conclusion doesn't even take into consideration his salary.



The only way Ekblad is going to get a contract extension (which is going to be some +9milx7 deal) from Zito is that he plays the full schedule of 82 games and he's the best dman in the league. Quite frankly, I don't see his mini-rink helping much to achieve that.

Those 2 seasons actually vaulted him to top 10 by executives. I think he was 6th or 7th.

But the fall off during this season has been massive. Not even an honorable mention

 

[vendetta]

He’s getting closer to back to form and will finish the year and going into next year as easily our best dman.

 

[Bag Of Beans]

I think he's much like Tro.
Once that bone breaks, it's hard to get back to where you were prior.

In football, if you get a major knee injury, It Takes Two Full years to heal, or to get back to normal.
I know he broke his legs, so it's a bit different, but two full years will be March 28th, 2023.

 

[Little Bobby Boo]

Used to think Brokin and then JLD were out to lunch on AE, but I think the team moves on from him at, or before his deal's expiry.

I like him. He is a good, sometimes really good player, but he is not "the guy" like he was drafted to be.

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

Well, all I’ll say is this.

He’s our best defensemen in franchise history and he’s still got a lot of years ahead of him. We don’t have anyone in the pipeline that seems suitable to replace him anytime in the near future and he could end up turning it around.

If you trade him in the off-season you better get a really good return

 

[ShootIt]

Well, all I’ll say is this.

He’s our best defensemen in franchise history and he’s still got a lot of years ahead of him. We don’t have anyone in the pipeline that seems suitable to replace him anytime in the near future and he could end up turning it around.

If you trade him in the off-season you better get a really good return

I disagree. That's Jay Bouwmeester.
Great skater, had an offensive game here and was a rock defensively.

 

[Bag Of Beans]

I disagree. That's Jay Bouwmeester.
Great skater, had an offensive game here and was a rock defensively.

He's good, but my favorite is:

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

I disagree. That's Jay Bouwmeester.
Great skater, had an offensive game here and was a rock defensively.

Solid choice. I personally think Ekblad has an edge over him though.

 

[Gentle Man]

Brian Campbell and it's not close lol.

No one has played better especially at their best nor has made anyone look more competent than Soupy.

Guy got shitters paid lmao

 

[Bag Of Beans]

Looking for Svehla highlights and came across this gem:




5th last game of the season in 1999. Lost this game 3-1, then proceeded to lose the next night in Toronto 9-1 to make the streak extend to seven games lost in a row.

 

[MPGA]

Low key, Yandle has an argument for best ever . At least in terms of puck moving

 

[Gentle Man]

Low key, Yandle has an argument for best ever . At least in terms of puck moving

Considering he moved it for both teams, you kind of have an argument there

 

[RJMA]

If you don't think Svehla is the best Panthers defenseman of all time, you probably became a hockey fan in his Toronto days or later

 

[Bag Of Beans]

Didn't The Rifleman take something like 40 stitches in the face once without freezing because it'd be quicker? He only missed part of a period and got back in the game?

You can't teach that.

 

[Mogo]

Bah... Paul Laus!

 

[Bag Of Beans]

Brian Campbell and it's not close lol.

No one has played better especially at their best nor has made anyone look more competent than Soupy.

Guy got shitters paid lmao

I would never say him because he's not a nice person and doesn't like the organization.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

Weegar is actually very good analytically in Calgary (especially considering defensive numbers). He is not producing as many points as in Florida, though. Also, look at "role difficulty" graph.

According to analytics, the Panthers were the best team in the Eastern Conference through the month of December. Just throwing that out there.

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Definitely have to give the nod to Svehla. Not only was he an great first-passer that saw the ice well, he had enough offensive awareness to QB the powerplay successfully and play a strong defensive game. He also hit like a truck when he wanted to throw the body. One of those proto-typical 90's defensemen that was so perfectly balanced that just doesn't exist much anymore.

Ekblad is easily the team's best goal-scoring defensemen and the numbers back it up. Probably the best wrist shot the Panthers have ever had on their blue line.

Campbell really only had one strong offensive season with the Cats and then hung around with the middling team of the late 2000s. He was great on the powerplay but his best years were behind him at that point.

Bouwmeester was also pretty great for some mediocre Panthers teams but was never a show stopper or big hitter. Had a solid overall game if a bit boring, but he was a joy to watch skate out there. He's be my #2 pick to be honest.

I don't see how you can go against Svehla. He was the team's #1 during their most consistent and successful years, he did everything for the team and then some. Plus him and Gordo are about the only one's who showed up for the 97 series against the Rangers.

 

[pantherbot]

I'd also argue that durability matters a lot. Svhela wasn't just good, he was good and played almost every game. Doesn't matter how good Ekblad can be when he's healthy if he's not healthy enough to do it consistently.

Say all you want about Ekblad being better offensively, but he's still yet to top Svhela's point totals through a full season. He tied Svhela's highest at 57 last year, but missed a quarter of the season and wasn't healthy enough to contribute when it mattered most in the playoffs.

 

[Bag Of Beans]

Definitely have to give the nod to Svehla. Not only was he an great first-passer that saw the ice well, he had enough offensive awareness to QB the powerplay successfully and play a strong defensive game. He also hit like a truck when he wanted to throw the body. One of those proto-typical 90's defensemen that was so perfectly balanced that just doesn't exist much anymore.

Ekblad is easily the team's best goal-scoring defensemen and the numbers back it up. Probably the best wrist shot the Panthers have ever had on their blue line.

Campbell really only had one strong offensive season with the Cats and then hung around with the middling team of the late 2000s. He was great on the powerplay but his best years were behind him at that point.

Bouwmeester was also pretty great for some mediocre Panthers teams but was never a show stopper or big hitter. Had a solid overall game if a bit boring, but he was a joy to watch skate out there. He's be my #2 pick to be honest.

I don't see how you can go against Svehla. He was the team's #1 during their most consistent and successful years, he did everything for the team and then some. Plus him and Gordo are about the only one's who showed up for the 97 series against the Rangers.

I remember being so excited after game one of that series (3-0 W IIRC), then the wheels fell off.