Aaron Ekblad is one of the Florida Panthers' top pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) with July 1 almost here. Both the player and the team have expressed interest in getting a new deal done, but the Panthers only have so much cap space to work with. In addition, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand are also pending UFAs for the Panthers.
If the Panthers are unable to re-sign Ekblad by the start of next month, he would be the best UFA defenseman on the market. Thus, he would certainly be a hot commodity for teams looking to improve the right side of their defense.
According to The Fourth Period, a few teams who could be in the mix for Ekblad if he hits the market are the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators.
This list of potential suitors for Ekblad contains both playoff and non-playoff teams. It is understandable, as Ekblad is right in his prime at 29 years old, so he could ultimately be a fit for any club. Teams looking to win now would benefit by signing him because he is a proven playoff performer with two Stanley Cups on his resume. Meanwhile, he could also be a player that a team on the rise could build its blueline around.
Nevertheless, time will tell what happens between the Panthers and Ekblad this off-season. They certainly should not give up on re-signing him yet, as he would be a significant loss to their blueline if he signs elsewhere. It will be intriguing to see if the two sides can figure out a new deal with each other from here.
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