What happened to Aaron Ekblad?

[A1LeafNation]

Maurice is an idiot. Every team he coaches seems to have problems...

 

[BKarchitect]

Do not get the Bouwmeester comps. He’s nothing like Bouwmeester who was a brilliant skater and very mundane with his offensive toolset.

Ekblad is a powerful offensive defenseman who lacks high level skating.

They are like opposites…

 

[T REX]

"We would've beat you with Ekblad"

- gets swept with Ekblad the following year

Ouch...too much talent. Cap excuse is BS

 

[Pablo El Perro]

He's always been slow. He is best when playing with a defenseman with speed who covers for him, like Soupy in his early years. He's at his best when he can take risks offensively, but the lack of speed and skating is obvious, and, in the D zone, he's a panic passer who doesn't win many battles given his size.

When Maurice paired him with Staal for a game, it was a wtf MOMENT, as I was wondering who was the worst skater, and I'm still not sure, although I lean towards Staal being the better skater because he knows his limitations.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Ouch...too much talent. Cap excuse is BS

Given the Panthers have played a man or two short a few games this year, the cap matters. Having said that, LTIRing Ekblad would make this team more competitive. We might be able to ice 4 more Mahuras.

 

[Prairie Habs]

He's a Habs fan and wants us to get value out of that 1st

 

[Chips]

New coach and losing a great D partner who allowed him to just focus on his strengths.

 

[Subbanned]

carried by weegar

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 is not a good comparable for Ekblad in so many ways lol...

 

[NewEraGM]

I’d be extremely concerned if i were a panthers fan. Boston, Toronto and TB are all gone. Even TB who have the 3rd spot in division, are 5 points up with 2 games in hand. Toronto and Boston they have no chance at catching. So realistically it’s down to a WC spot at best.

 

[wintersej]

Great shot. Big. Bad skater. Only OK moving the puck and defensive IQ. A great partner for a smooth skating PMD. A high end top pair D, but not an elite #1 you can throw with anyone.

 

[FinlandPanther]

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.

I’m going to relish in your first round exit this year. The threads will be off the chain.

 

[tapi]

I’d be extremely concerned if i were a panthers fan. Boston, Toronto and TB are all gone. Even TB who have the 3rd spot in division, are 5 points up with 2 games in hand. Toronto and Boston they have no chance at catching. So realistically it’s down to a WC spot at best.

Indeed the Panthers are looking to bomb out. They should likely fire Maurice sooner than later, to see whether it has a tangible effect. If not, a rebuild should be included in the long-term considerations.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Indeed the Panthers are looking to bomb out. They should likely fire Maurice sooner than later, to see whether it has a tangible effect. If not, a rebuild should be included in the long-term considerations.

They don’t need a rebuild lmao.

 

[NewEraGM]

They don’t need a rebuild lmao.

They can’t rebuild.

 

[IceManCat]

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.

Not sure if this is a joke or if you just enjoy making up things up out of thin air? He's one of the best defensive d-man in the entire league. lmao at the offense only part. That's perhaps his worst trait.

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.

Once again he was in the Norris trophy running before his injury and putting up some of the best defensive stats in the league. I wish people would just say "hey I don't really watch the player that much" instead of just making up facts based on some anecdotal highlights.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

You should be concerned about his skating

It’s really never been that good.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Bouwmeester’s biggest strength is Ekblad’s worst attribute

yeah seriously bad comparison, lol, maybe they just meant in terms of like how good they are but they are extremely different as players. Bouw skated like the wind and made it look effortless, Ekblad has never been a top notch skater.

 

[Haatley]

No Weegar.

 

[Dread Clawz]

You should be concerned about his skating

He was a Norris contender in 2021 until he broke his leg, with the same skating.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I’d be extremely concerned if i were a panthers fan. Boston, Toronto and TB are all gone. Even TB who have the 3rd spot in division, are 5 points up with 2 games in hand. Toronto and Boston they have no chance at catching. So realistically it’s down to a WC spot at best.

I don't see Detroit staying in it until the end. Once Barkov gets back to himself, Panthers will start stringing wins together.

I’m going to relish in your first round exit this year. The threads will be off the chain.

Leafs are gonna do it this year. Millionth time is the charm.

 

[DrMom9900]

He's the worst skating 1st pairing dman in the league. His high testosterone DNA which carried him to the #1OA pick after bullying lesser T wimps in juniors for several years went to his head. His shit dont stink. No reason to improve or work on any of his faults, like skating. He has no faults. He's the best dman in the league afterall. Now we're seeing the high school all-star crash like a meteor into the middle of the ocean. High test early means high decline in bone density. Look it up, I'm an osteopathic surgeon.

I predict Ekblad is actually retired in 5 years. His agility and skating is THAT bad. With all his injuries caused by lack of stretching and calisthenic conditioning of his lower extremeties, he has developed wooden stilts for legs. The high testosterone detritus has petrified his bones into immalleable rock struts that hinder his movement.

I'm 100% serious with this post. Remind me in 5 yrs. Ekblad is retired. He's a bum.

 

[BB88]

It’s really never been that good.

& that’s why you should be concerned with it.

On top of never been a great skater he’s had multiple lower body injuries.

His next contract could be a massive anchor

He was a Norris contender in 2021 until he broke his leg, with the same skating.

See above

& I’d never take him ahead of Makar/Fox/Heiskanen/McAvoy.
He isn’t dynamic like that.

At his best he’s a 1D, not a franchise type 1D but he carries a ton of risk with him because of his skating and injury history

 

[Voight]

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.

Seriously. Dude's only 26. People act like he's 34.

 

[Tanknomore]

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

This year is a wash for them as they are looking to help Montreal solidify at least two top 10 picks in the 2023 draft.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

He isn't playing any worse than the other defensemen, but he's the big name so.