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Aaron Ekblad has been a star for Florida for a long time, and after back-to-back Stanley Cups, he reveals where he wants to sign in free agency.
Back in the 2014 NHL Draft, the Florida Panthers used the No. 1 overall pick on defenseman Aaron Ekblad out of the OHL, and while things weren't looking good early, as of late it's been nothing but success.
The organization has since reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals, hoisting the trophy in back-to-back seasons now, with Ekblad continuing to be a key piece of that success on the blue line.
Now, he's headed for free agency, and with few other big name defenseman on the market, he's one of the top names available, with Calgary, Dallas and Toronto just three teams that could look to land the veteran star.
Ekblad recently addressed free agency and the possibility of returning to Florida, making it clear that this is his home, and he wants it to remain that way moving forward.
'Conversations have been had. Obviously, nothing material yet, but they'll be working on it. Things seem to come down to the last minute here.I've spent 11 years here... It's home, and I expect it to be home.'
That doesn't mean Ekblad has ruled out the possibility of leaving if the money/term aren't right in Florida, but after playing 732 regular season games and 83 playoff games with the Panthers, he's fallen in love with the team and the city, and he hopes to remain for as long as he can.
We will see how this plays out in the coming weeks, and if Ekblad gets a big offer from Toronto or another contending team, it's safe to say that the Panthers hands may be forced as they could have a big time decision.
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