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Panthers’ Decision Could ‘Squeeze Out’ Aaron Ekblad, Claims NHL Insider

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 9:36 AM ET

The Florida Panthers spent close to a week celebrating their second consecutive Stanley Cup triumph but tough decisions will come Florida's way in the next few days.

With July 1 approaching, the Panthers must address the futures of three top-tier pending free agents — Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad — with just $19 million in available cap space and, most probably, not enough room to bring them all back.

According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, reporting on Tuesday's TSN's "Insider Trading," there’s a clear internal ranking to how Florida intends to approach these extensions and one that could leave a Panthers mainstay on the outside of the team looking in.

INSIDER TRADING - @PierreVLeBrun on the Leafs & Tavares trying to find the sweet spot in contract talks, Florida’s Big 3 UFAs: https://t.co/uAIroPSHig pic.twitter.com/DxGAqCn7YZ
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) June 24, 2025

"I would rate that pecking order as Sam Bennett, one, Brad Marchand, two, and Aaron Ekblad, three," LeBrun said. "It just feels that when you look at three key pending UFAs that someone gets squeezed out.

"I could be wrong but I feel like that’s Ekblad, who is in all likelihood heading to market."

Bennett is expected to draw massive interest on the market, potentially up to $10 million per season, though Florida won’t offer that number, according to LeBrun.

If Bennett is willing to stay for less—closer to Sam Reinhart’s $8 million AAV—the Panthers will likely move fast and secure his signature.

Marchand, originally viewed as a rental after landing him in a trade-deadline move, has played his way into the long-term picture.

"A couple of weeks ago the sense was Marchand was more of a rental, but he had such a great Stanley Cup Final and he was such a great fit that I think the Panthers will, as Zito said publicly, try to re-sign him," LeBrun wrote. "But what number makes sense there?"

Ekblad, meanwhile, appears to be at risk of being the odd man out.

“I’m not going to say there’s no chance (Ekblad) re-signs but the reality is that I don’t think there’s been a lot of negotiation throughout the year since last summer on Ekblad," LeBrun reported.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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