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Aaron Ekblad News
Ekblad (undisclosed) will play in Game 1 vs. the Lightning.

Ekblad did not play the final six games of the season for the Panthers due to an undisclosed injury but will be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ekblad has seen a decrease in offensive productivity the last few years but is still a major part of the Panthers' blue line. He had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 51 games this season.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (undisclosed) will be ready for Game 1 of Florida's opening playoff series.

Ekblad has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on April 2nd but will be ready for the start of the playoffs. Ekblad has seen a decrease in offensive productivity the last few years but is still a major part of the Panthers' blue line. He has 18 points (4G / 14A) in 51 games this season.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (undisclosed) is out Thursday vs. Ottawa but expected to return for the beginning of the playoffs.

Ekblad exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens after playing only 7:16 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Ekblad's presence on the blueline will be a critical blow for the Panthers for the remainder of the season but all indications point to him being ready for the playoffs.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower body) will return after taking full line rushes at morning skate.

Ekblad has been sidelined since March 9th due to a lower-body injury but has been a full participant at practice for several days and will return on Thursday. The 28-year-old Windsor native's production has taken a bit of a hit in 2023-24 as he has only four goals and 17 points in 47 games.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower body) returned to full practice on Tuesday and is expected to return in the upcoming games.

Ekblad has been sidelined since March 9th due to a lower-body injury and returned to practice in full on Tuesday but is not ready yet for game speed. The 28-year-old Windsor native is expected back in the upcoming games but will see how the next few practices go. His production has taken a bit of a hit in 2023-24 as he has only four goals, and 17 points in 47 games played.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower body) is expected to miss two-weeks and then will be day-to-day from there.

Ekblad exited Saturday's 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames in the first period after playing only 5:10 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Before his injury, Ekblad had two points (0G / 2A) during a two-game point streak. The Panthers will likely be cautious with him for the remainder of the season as they approach the playoffs.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower body) will draw back into the Panthers' lineup on Tuesday.

Ekblad did not play in the Panthers' dominating 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday due to a lower-body injury but will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators. After a four-point night on January 19th, Ekblad has been held without a point in eight of his last nine games.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower body) should be good to return on Tuesday vs. Ottawa but is considered a game-time decision.

Ekblad did not play in the Panthers' dominating 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators. After a four-point night on January 19th, Ekblad has been held without a point in eight of his last nine games.

Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad (lower body) will return Monday vs. Calgary.

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, did not play on Saturday, but is likely to return to action on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Through 13 games this season, Ekblad has four points (0G / 4A) and is averaging a career-low 21:02 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Gustav Forsling on the Panthers' top defensive pair.

Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad (lower body) took part in morning skate and is likely to return Monday vs. Calgary.

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury, did not play on Saturday, but is likely to return to action on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Through 13 games this season, Ekblad has four points (0G / 4A) and is averaging a career-low 21:02 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Gustav Forsling on the Panthers' top defensive pair.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (lower-body) is questionable to play Saturday.

Ekblad left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and is questionable to play Saturday in Edmonton. Head coach Paul Maurice said that Ekblad's injury isn't serious and that they "don't even know if it's day-to-day" and added that they "think they got ahead of it." It sounds like Ekblad is more likely to play than miss Saturday's game, but monitor his status during the afternoon.

Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad (shoulder) is a game-time decision Friday vs. Anaheim.

Ekblad, initially expected to be out until mid-December, could return to action as soon as tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. The injured reserve has become far too familiar of a place for Ekblad over the past few seasons as the talented defenceman will hope for a better fate upon his return for the remainder of the season. Despite his recent inability to play an entire season, Ekblad scored more than 10 goals in each of his past three campaigns.

Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad (shoulder) is targeting Friday as a possible return vs. Anaheim.

Ekblad has yet to play in 2023-24 due to offseason shoulder surgery but is eyeing Friday vs. Anaheim as a possible return to make his season debut. The 27-year-old heavy shooting defensemen has scored double digit goals in eight of his nine career seasons and had 14 goals, 38 points, and 68 PIMs in 71 games played in 2022-23.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (shoulder) is expected to miss at least two more weeks.

Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice said that there's a chance Ekblad returns after the Panthers' upcoming road trip to California, which runs from Nov. 14 to Nov.17. This puts Ekblad on track to play somewhere around Nov.20 when they host the Edmonton Oilers.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (shoulder) is expected to miss the start of the 2023-24 season.

Panthers GM Barry Zito did not have a definitive timetable for when Ekblad is expected to make his season debut but said it's safe to assume he'll be back between "November to January." That timeline doesn't clarify Ekblad's status, but more detailed updates could become available throughout training camp.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad (shoulder) is expected to be back in "a month or two."

Both Ekblad and Brandon Montour underwent offseason shoulder surgery, and GM Bill Zito said they're "on time" and are expected to be back in "a month or two." This puts both defensemen on pace to be ready close to the start of the regular season. The Panthers play just eight games in October, so even if Ekblad misses the start of the season, he may not miss too many games.

Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad will undergo shoulder surgery and will not be ready for 2023-24 training camp.

Ekblad played through a broken foot, two shoulder dislocations and multiple oblique tears throughout the postseason and his shoulder will require offseason surgery. Ekblad will not be ready in time for training camp. His injury isn't expected to linger too deep into the 2023-24 season, but expect a more detailed timetable following his surgery.

Aaron Ekblad