Would you take Ekblad back at a "hometown" discount (4-5 million AAV)

[KW]

Ha. Ek isn’t easily intimidated.

 

[IceManCat]

I think at that price you HAVE to take him back. Just because there isnt a worthwhile replacement to be had. Not many RD are available for free agency. Not signing a capable top pairing partner for Forsling would be a huge mistake going forward, also his advanced metrics are phenomenal he really is one of the best defensive players in the league. It would be crushing to not replace that especially at a fair price.

You guys are deranged if you wouldn't take a top pair RHD at $4.5m AAV.

Exactly, a whole lot of uneducated, idiotic takes in this one.

 

[Marco 85]

I voted no.
Time to move on but if we were going to sign him.
No more than 2 years.
His body doesn’t merit more then 2 years.

I find it crazy that players are getting 8 year deals.
Great for the player but handcuffs the team.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

You guys are deranged if you wouldn't take a top pair RHD at $4.5m AAV.

Here is the thing, this contract is not about how Aaron Ekblad is playing now, it is about how Aaron Ekblad is going to be playing in the future. Right now, I think he is struggling to keep up with top pair duties. In three years, how do you think it's going to look?

 

[wampa13jku]

Voted yes but im 50/50.

If Zito finds anything better in free agency I would be down to go with that, time to go with a better skater, healthier guy, we already got our #1 D and thats Gus. Ek has been a workhorse for us and he is homegrown talent but Im scared of how his health is gonna hold moving forward, dont want the team to be tied up to that @ 4-5 mil for a guy that cant play a whole season. We know he's gonna miss a couple of games every season, it is a matter of when.

If he stays I recommend the Panthers hire @Gentle Man to help put Ekblad back together everytime he breaks like a Lego set

 

[kerrabria]

Here is the thing, this contract is not about how Aaron Ekblad is playing now, it is about how Aaron Ekblad is going to be playing in the future. Right now, I think he is struggling to keep up with top pair duties. In three years, how do you think it's going to look?

I disagree that he's struggling as a top pair guy, but even if you're right, that reasoning shows how spoiled this fanbase has gotten. You don't want to sign a 2/3D to $4.5m AAV because you're worried that three years from now, when the cap is $100m, the you might be stuck spending $4.5m on a 4/5D.

Again, even if you're hesitant about 2030 Ekblad, who are you replacing him with in 2025-26? Zito is not going to wake up one day and shit out a 22 minute per night defenseman who makes $3m.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

At a discount sure. At a raise, no.

 

[Panthersfan1989]

3.5 x2 that's my final offer.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I disagree that he's struggling as a top pair guy, but even if you're right, that reasoning shows how spoiled this fanbase has gotten. You don't want to sign a 2/3D to $4.5m AAV because you're worried that three years from now, when the cap is $100m, the you might be stuck spending $4.5m on a 4/5D.

Again, even if you're hesitant about 2030 Ekblad, who are you replacing him with in 2025-26? Zito is not going to wake up one day and shit out a 22 minute per night defenseman who makes $3m.

What I'm saying is, I don't think Aaron Ekblad is going to be a 22 minute per night defenseman for very long. I think the Panthers need to start looking -- immediately -- to find a replacement or at least a stopgap for those minutes. I would wager that the team is already doing so.

I am in favor of re-signing Ekblad to play a lesser role -- fewer and easier minutes -- at a contract appropriate for that role. I think signing him to be a heavy lifter for another 6(?) years will be utterly disastrous.

I don't want the Panthers to have a three year window of competition and then fall into the abyss. I want the team to manage these contracts effectively so that even if the last year or two of a given contract hurts a bit, the team doesn't go back to 2010.

 

[tmorton]

I think the consensus on Ekblad on this board is overblown. Yes he's taken a step back and isn't worth 7-7.5 on an 8 year deal anymore, but he is still a very valuable defensive defenseman who can add some offence.

 

[Chessarmy]

I would bring him back for a pay cut but I HIGHLY doubt he's taking less money. He's going to want more money.

 

[TotalHomer]

I would bring him back for a pay cut but I HIGHLY doubt he's taking less money. He's going to want more money.

If that's the case then it sayonara. Anyway don't see anyone giving more than what Montour got, even that seems a stretch. His production is down and he has had so many injuries, he's still a solid player but there are some obvious holes and red flags in his game.

The more I think about it, I'm not sure why a guy like Orlov on a two year deal would be any worse than Ekblad in the short run.

 

[Little Bobby Boo]

I think it will take losing ekblad for a lot of folks here to realize he has a really decent game.

He is slow as piss, but Forsling always looks worse when Ek goes down. Weegar was terrible without Ek.

Somewhere between 4-6M and it's a no-brainer. Term is the scary part, tho. And you need to give term to keep AAV down.

 

[RogerRogerr]

I voted Yes, but I'll trust Zito.

 

[TotalHomer]

I think it will take losing ekblad for a lot of folks here to realize he has a really decent game.

He is slow as piss, but Forsling always looks worse when Ek goes down. Weegar was terrible without Ek.

Somewhere between 4-6M and it's a no-brainer. Term is the scary part, tho. And you need to give term to keep AAV down.

I don't think anyone is disputing that he's still a good player. I just wonder since we continuously bring in guys like Mikkola, OEL or Schmid etc. who also look decent, how big would the drop off really be with someone else? Some veteran lets say. And we wouldn't have to only look at guys for league minimum if Ek's salary is off the books, we could sign guys in the 5-6 million range. I'm really on the fence with this one I guess.

 

[pantherbot]

If he signs for league minimum at 1-yr contracts that can be reset every year and promises not to eat all the pre-game food, maybe we should consider re-signing him. But if not, then see ya later. We've got lots of guys ready to step up into the 2-4D spot next year like Hovorka and Benning, or just go find some cheap replacement guy in free agency.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

I wouldn't be surprised if Zito trades for a guy like Ristolainen in the off-season. iirc he has improved his defensive metrics significantly under Torts. Trade our 2026 2nd round pick + Sourdif, take on his whole salary and kick the can down the road by couple of years. Sign Chychrun or some other offensive to cover up the missing point production from defense.

Forsling - Ristolainen
Mikkola - Chychrun
Balinskis - Hovorka/Token Veteran Presence(tm)

That's a lot better d-core than what we're witnessing right now. And I say that with the same confidence I had when I mentioned that Tkachuk is a vastly better player than Huby when that particular trade went down.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I've learned better than to argue with Frank Lopez.