What happened to Aaron Ekblad?

[HockeyVirus]

He was a pretty strong defender but this season in my viewings he is being exposed badly in his role as the #1. His play is a big part of the Panthers struggles right now.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Injuries

 

[BB88]

Injuries

& lack of development (skating)

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He's over the hill, that's what happened.

 

[Zubrus Coffee Maker]

I think he’s been forced into a different role this year with Florida’s losses on Defense. Weegar was a great partner for him

 

[Bounces R Way]

Was never that good.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

Having a rough season, I’m not overly worried though. Whole team is kinda mediocre this year

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

Injuries & Paul Maurice.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He's overrated. Borderline #1 dman but he's a #2 (maybe even a #3) on a contender.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

Can't skate his way out of a paper bag, it's that simple. He just can't skate. See: the ENG that was just scored against him.

 

[Dread Clawz]

He's had 2 leg injuries in the past 18 months, plus a groin injury, and he wasn't the fastest skater to begin with. I think he'll bounce back. He needs some time.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

OP reports on Panthers more than our own beat writers haha.

Nothing happened, he was never elite at defense, he was always an offensive defenseman that was forced to play some defense. He's had some big injuries but whole team is off right now.

Forsling and Ekblad have no chemistry but Maurice is forcing it.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

More like Errin’ Ekbad, amirite?

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

He's had 2 leg injuries in the past 18 months, plus a groin injury, and he wasn't the fastest skater to begin with. I think he'll bounce back. He needs some time.

This is the correct answer outside the usual hysterics on our board.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He's pretty much the modern day Jay Bouwmeester. Good at everything but not particularly great at anything. Not a great #1 dman but excels the most when he's the teams #2 or #3 behind a true #1.

 

[WarriorofTime]

When you're an 18 year old that looks 25, that means you're a 26 year old that's actually 33. It's just science.

 

[ESH]

He's pretty much the modern day Jay Bouwmeester. Good at everything but not particularly great at anything. Not a great #1 dman but excels the most when he's the teams #2 or #3 behind a true #1.

Bouwmeester’s biggest strength is Ekblad’s worst attribute

 

[BKarchitect]

Lack of foot speed. It’s hard to be elite over all 200’ without it these days.

It’s why Hedman has gone in the tank this year.

Both are still incredibly dangerous offensive weapons and physically imposing. But it’s becoming more and more important to be elite in transition and recovery these days.

 

[HockeyVirus]

He's pretty much the modern day Jay Bouwmeester. Good at everything but not particularly great at anything. Not a great #1 dman but excels the most when he's the teams #2 or #3 behind a true #1.

Think you are on to something with this

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

The Panthers' blueline is pretty bad all around. Good defensemen can look pretty bad when they have no support.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Was never that good.

Except when he was in the conversation for the Norris last season before getting injured

 

[Sky04]

"We would've beat you with Ekblad"

- gets swept with Ekblad the following year

 

[Bounces R Way]

Except when he was in the conversation for the Norris last season before getting injured

He wasn't that good then either.

 

[Svencouver]

He is exactly who he was before his exceptional seasons; which is an underrated, but also undersupported, #1D. All great defensemen require support from both the forward core and the rest of the D lineup to allow them to play in a way most suited to their abilities and maximize their impact.

Karlsson in particular gave people very unrealistic expectations for what a talented D could do "by themselves," because he was generational and played a style of roving, mobile D that let him be more independent.

 

[BB88]

Having a rough season, I’m not overly worried though. Whole team is kinda mediocre this year

You should be concerned about his skating