The Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in 2024. The title was the first in Panthers history and capped a long, arduous rebuild that began in 2014 when they selected Aaron Ekblad first overall. The defenseman won the Calder Trophy as the best rookie and immediately became the team’s best defenseman. Now, at ten years old and with a Stanley Cup under his belt, he spoke honestly about his feelings about the title.

“It’s so hard and so few people do it…To understand that and feel the significance of what we’ve accomplished and how great it is to be a champion and to win that trophy is incredible,” Ekblad told Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com.

Ekblad honestly believed he would never win the Stanley Cup. He came very close in 2023, but lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Cup final. Ekblad was even better in these playoffs than he was when he won, but the team effort is more important.

The Panthers were led by their defenseman during the playoffs. Gustav Forsling made a name for himself and Ekblad played over 22 minutes a night during the playoffs. However, Ekblad was on the transfer list ahead of the 2024-25 season. His contract expires after this season and the Panthers are looking to rejuvenate the defense.

Panthers have to make a decision about Aaron Ekblad

The Panthers should look to trade Aaron Ekblad before the trade deadline this season. They can rejuvenate and acquire future assets as they try to defend their title. He is entering the final year of his contract, which is worth $7.5 million. There are plenty of teams that could benefit from snagging Ekblad.

The St. Louis Blues received a brutal injury report on Torey Krug this summer. He could miss the entire season due to pre-arthritic issues in his ankle. Their aging defensive core could use another player to get through this season. The price for Ekblad shouldn’t be too high, so a mid-round pick to land him would be a good investment.

The Ottawa Senators traded Jakob Chycrun during the offseason, despite him recently being traded to Ottawa from Arizona. With the defensive line dominated by young players, a veteran presence could be beneficial for the Senators. While Jake Sanderson, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Thomas Chabot are the headliners of the group, Ekblad would fit in nicely.

This season should be the year the Anaheim Ducks complete their rebuild. Trevor Zegras is still around for now and Cutter Gauthier will be playing his first full NHL season. Stanley Cup champion Alex Killorn is the veteran on offense, but they could use one on defense. They should look at Ekblad to fill that void.

Aaron Ekblad could leave Florida before the end of his contract. If that happens, he still has a shot at the Stanley Cup as the player who symbolizes the Panthers’ complete rebuild.