Confirmed Signing with Link: [FLA] Aaron Ekblad re-signs with Panthers (8 years, $7.500M AAV)

[Gentle Man]

Regardless this was a deal that didn't have to be made for another year.

If they waited, they risk Ekblad having a monster year, especially now with Yandle, and having to pay way more.

 

[TorontoTrades]

He already plays at a 7 million dollar player. He's 20 years old and a future Norris winner. Great deal for both sides.

 

[vendetta]

If they waited, they risk Ekblad having a monster year, especially now with Yandle, and having to pay way more.

How much more do u think he could really get? How monster of a year could he really put up? If he puts up 20 goals 60 points and is a beast defensively.. what woukd he get 8? I woukd rather that and see him develope instead of the huge question marks...

 

[vendetta]

He already plays at a 7 million dollar player. He's 20 years old and a future Norris winner. Great deal for both sides.

Nope he doesnt

 

[Sky04]

If they waited, they risk Ekblad having a monster year, especially now with Yandle, and having to pay way more.

Even with a monster year, he's not going to command that much as a 21 year old RFA. Good that they locked him down now, but with that term they could've gotten less of a caphit.

 

[KlefDown]

He still has one year left on ELC yeh?

 

[Chaos]

So this is a fantastic deal, but everyone questioned the Klingberg contract?

Easy, one was a big strong Canadian, who was drafted first overall and had been known about for several years before. The other was a relatively obscure Swedish 5th round pick.

I'm just happy Nill got Klingberg to sign that contract when he did. Otherwise I can only imagine what he'd be getting after this contract, considering Klingberg has been the better player so far.

 

[Sky04]

He already plays at a 7 million dollar player. He's 20 years old and a future Norris winner. Great deal for both sides.

Yeah? He plays like Drew Doughty, Norris winner at 7m?

 

[vendetta]

Even with a monster year, he's not going to command that much as a 21 year old RFA. Good that they locked him down now, but with that term they could've gotten less of a caphit.

No more term means more cap to eat up more ufa years... the less term they go the less aav they wpukd pay

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

*Sigh*

Good deal, but this is how the lockouts start...

 

[EnforceTheLaus]

Even with a monster year, he's not going to command that much as a 21 year old RFA. Good that they locked him down now, but with that term they could've gotten less of a caphit.

He's put up ~40 pts with a defunct PP as the team's leading point guy on defense. Next season he is playing with Yandle, and the PP is a major focus this offseason. He's going break out points wise

 

[Sky04]

No more term means more cap to eat up more ufa years... the less term they go the less aav they wpukd pay

They also lose 4 years where he could've been on a cap friendly deal in order to maintain a competitive team.

 

[vipera1960]

How much more do u think he could really get? How monster of a year could he really put up? If he puts up 20 goals 60 points and is a beast defensively.. what woukd he get 8? I woukd rather that and see him develope instead of the huge question marks...

Exactly. I don't understand why you would commit to a risk that is unnecessary and provides minimal benefit.

 

[RiceCooker]

Love it... time to get a new Panthers Ekblad jersey .

 

[surixon]

Similar to Doughty's deal. Ekblad has looked to be a Doughty caliber player early on in his career so it seems like a pretty smart bet for the Panthers to lock him up right through his prime at the current number one defenseman market rate. It likely looks pretty good 3 -4 years down the road if he continues to develop into one of the games best.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Get it done early before he asks for 10.5.

Don't wanna go the bridge deal then he wins a Norris and gets 9 eh? Genius

(Weak Norris for pk but still proved he was one of the best)

 

[lidstromiscool]

Possibly overpay for the first couple years, and a steal after that. Pretty sweet deal

 

[KCC]

Not worth it now but n time he will be. No question about it.

 

[Sky04]

He's put up ~40 pts with a defunct PP as the team's leading point guy on defense. Next season he is playing with Yandle, and the PP is a major focus this offseason. He's going break out points wise

Even then, he wouldn't command more then 7.5m (insanely high for a D-man in general let alone an RFA).

 

[MessierII]

Not bad. Not great but not bad. I'm a fan if locking guys down early to save long term cap. But this is still a premium price. Not sure there's much cap savings by doing this now.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Not worth it now but n time he will be. No question about it.

O ye I agree.

But in 2 years when the team has really grown and you need that extra 2 million to sign a solid top 9 or top 4 defensemen and overpay him it ll be good then.

Honestly thought he'd go the Subban route of bridge. But this dollar amount you don't turn down no way.

 

[vendetta]

They also lose 4 years where he could've been on a cap friendly deal in order to maintain a competitive team.

I agree... I'm not a fan of this contract.. it's not a steal by Amy stretch especially the more I think about it.. it's probably market value and the team isn't getting a deal at all imo

 

[BreakingGood]

I think this might be the biggest contract in Panther history.

And this sounds extra ****ed up, but Dave Bolland isn't far behind in ranking I'm sure.

As a Panthers fan, don't you feel like it's fairly miraculous that Jay Bouwmeester bolted ASAP, but Aaron Ekblad signs a fairly team friendly long term deal? That's such a good break, imho.

 

[BatVader]

What happened?
This went from Confirmed to Rumored

 

[vendetta]

Not bad. Not great but not bad. I'm a fan if locking guys down early to save long term cap. But this is still a premium price. Not sure there's much cap savings by doing this now.

My thoughts exactly