Speculation: Will Aaron Ekblad be extended by Florida?

[dgibb10]

He's not a top pairing level RHD at this point. He hasn't been for a couple years. Paying him 7+ million for his 29-35 seasons would be pretty unwise. They can find a free agent replacement or trade for someone like Vegas does

Here is the UFA rd market

 

[WarriorofTime]

Ekblad is probably an AAV or term guy. Not both. I could see 7.5 x 4, or like 5.5 x 8.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Here is the UFA rd marketView attachment 925965View attachment 925966View attachment 925967

Ekblad is probably an AAV or term guy. Not both. I could see 7.5 x 4, or like 5.5 x 8.

I get Forsling took a discount.

I think Ekblad taking 7.5 x 7 is a fair deal.

The above chart shows who's available. UFA top 4 D are getting paid. Ekblad is a top 4 RD. Yes he got hurt and isn't as good but just staying at 7.5 is cheaper than he was before.

5.5 just seems so unrealistic. I suppose Florida tax could come into play...

 

[Mogo]

I get Forsling took a discount.

I think Ekblad taking 7.5 x 7 is a fair deal.

The above chart shows who's available. UFA top 4 D are getting paid. Ekblad is a top 4 RD. Yes he got hurt and isn't as good but just staying at 7.5 is cheaper than he was before.

5.5 just seems so unrealistic. I suppose Florida tax could come into play...

I cant see them paying him more than Forsling

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I cant see them paying him more than Forsling

Montour just got 7 years 50 million. Ekblad is better.

Forsling signed a ridiculous Sweet Heart deal. Not every player needs to do that.

 

[Winger98]

Montour just got 7 years 50 million. Ekblad is better.

Forsling signed a ridiculous Sweet Heart deal. Not every player needs to do that.

I would be the experience of being waived played into Forsling's thinking a bit. He signed for less than he could have gotten on the open market, but he also got a lot of security with that 8 year deal and NMC for the majority of it.

If Knight has another solid year, I wonder if Florida wouldn't look at moving Bobrovsky so they can keep Bennett and Ekblad.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Montour just got 7 years 50 million. Ekblad is better.

The injury history is the big hesitation anyone would have with giving him a long deal. I think he'd have to cut his AAV pretty significantly to make the short-term worthwhile enough to deal with any potential long-term pain.

 

[ManofSteel55]

I expect he will price himself out of Florida. He could command a pretty large salary - although there is a big opportunity for buyer's remorse to come out of that deal.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I would be the experience of being waived played into Forsling's thinking a bit. He signed for less than he could have gotten on the open market, but he also got a lot of security with that 8 year deal and NMC for the majority of it.

If Knight has another solid year, I wonder if Florida wouldn't look at moving Bobrovsky so they can keep Bennett and Ekblad.

Yep this is what I think a guy who hasn't got his pay day yet and wanted to make sure he doesn't get to greedy and gets the bag while he's good.

The injury history is the big hesitation anyone would have with giving him a long deal. I think he'd have to cut his AAV pretty significantly to make the short-term worthwhile enough to deal with any potential long-term pain.

I expect he will price himself out of Florida. He could command a pretty large salary - although there is a big opportunity for buyer's remorse to come out of that deal.

Looking at the UFA market he's the best RD. Even with taxes there is a difference asking someone to go from 11 to 8.6 or 8.2 whatever Reinhart is and Going 7.5 to 5.5

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yep this is what I think a guy who hasn't got his pay day yet and wanted to make sure he doesn't get to greedy and gets the bag while he's good.





Looking at the UFA market he's the best RD. Even with taxes there is a difference asking someone to go from 11 to 8.6 or 8.2 whatever Reinhart is and Going 7.5 to 5.5

If Pionk hits UFA don’t count him out.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

If Pionk hits UFA don’t count him out.

Fair enough. That is definitely competition.

I think Jets need to sign him.

2.75 Wheeler buyout going away
Schmidt buyout drops by a million.

So 3 million + let's say 5 million on the cap
Neal could get like a 8x8 offer if Jets desperate

 

[T_Cage]

I agree. Still it's not a sin to strive to be better, maybe FLA would have won more than one cup by now if they had chosen someone different. I know this can be argued to death but i think you got my point.

Fun fact, the Panthers have the 1st, 2nd, and 4th overall players from that draft on their team (Ekblad, Reinhardt, Bennett), so i don't think a different pick would have made much difference

Obviously Drai is a better player than Ekblad, but I don't think he wins them multiple cups cause then their D isn't as strong

 

[elmaco]

Fun fact, the Panthers have the 1st, 2nd, and 4th overall players from that draft on their team (Ekblad, Reinhardt, Bennett), so i don't think a different pick would have made much difference

Obviously Drai is a better player than Ekblad, but I don't think he wins them multiple cups cause then their D isn't as strong

Hard to believe that Drai wouldn't bring more than Ekblad in any scenario, but hindsight is always easy.

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

If he makes more on his next contract than his current contract that would be a big mistake, and im a big ekblad fan

 

[sxvnert]

Definitely. They'll probably sign Bennett and Ekblad to the same contract: 8yr/7m aav.

 

[Mogo]

Montour just got 7 years 50 million. Ekblad is better.

Forsling signed a ridiculous Sweet Heart deal. Not every player needs to do that.

Did Montour sign with Panthers? Ekblad loves Florida. He wants to stay. He knows he's gonna have to take a lot less than market value if he wants to stay

 

[BKarchitect]

Ekblad isn’t better than Montour. He's certainly not a better bet moving forward. Montour may make mistakes occasionally but his skating makes him an influence over the entire sheet of ice. Ekblad is more limited. Montour has been excellent in Seattle as their de facto #1, logging 25 minutes a night and being everywhere on the ice. I highly doubt Ekblad can have a similar impact isolated as “the guy” on a team like that, even if he is still attractive as a support defenseman on a particular pair or situation.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Yeah, Pionk will get paid. That's not an option for Florida.

 

[TotalHomer]

Definitely. They'll probably sign Bennett and Ekblad to the same contract: 8yr/7m aav.

I can see Bennett getting that but not Ekblad. Although we could sign both at those prices without any moves.

 

[Miro4Norris]

More than good enough to play with and beat the Oilers 1st overall picks last year.

Doesn't need to be an offensive dynamo to be a fantastic top pair RHD, but his prime is over and he isn't the #1 anymore. Needs to take a haircut to stay.

People who argue for Ekblad because of his cup win... Did you watch those games? Ekblad was horrible in finals, always 2 steps late in the situations causing constant breakaways for Oilers

 

[Shocker]

Zito will most likely move on if Ekblad doesn't sign on a discount, which will be a nice dodge for the Panthers, wouldn't touch a 7x7 deal with Ekblad with anything.

 

[TotalHomer]

Zito will most likely move on if Ekblad doesn't sign on a discount, which will be a nice dodge for the Panthers, wouldn't touch a 7x7 deal with Ekblad with anything.

That's why he isn't getting more than Forlsing. His first few steps are awful and he already has a hard time keeping up.

I wouldn't even pay him what Forsling gets, maybe something like 5M max. And that's only because there aren't really other options available. At least not UFAs.

 

[Ratsreign]

I get Forsling took a discount.

I think Ekblad taking 7.5 x 7 is a fair deal.

The above chart shows who's available. UFA top 4 D are getting paid. Ekblad is a top 4 RD. Yes he got hurt and isn't as good but just staying at 7.5 is cheaper than he was before.

5.5 just seems so unrealistic. I suppose Florida tax could come into play...

More than the tax, or lack of. It’s living where he has been for his whole career, with an organization that is light years ahead of the fiasco he played for earlier in his career. Playing for chances to win another Cup with teammates that seem to have a real “band of brothers” vibe around them.
Money isn’t the only consideration..