Ekblad signed an eight-year, $48.8 million contract extension with Florida on Monday, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad would have been a hot commodity on the open market as an unrestricted free agent, but he will remain with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he has played for the Panthers for 11 straight years. In the 2024-25 regular season, he contributed three goals, 33 points, 106 shots on net, 64 blocked shots and 90 hits across 56 appearances. Ekblad will return to Florida's top pairing in the 2025-26 campaign, and he should see plenty of time on the power play.

Ekblad delivered an assist in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

EDGE Analysis

He also delivered two blocks in 21:37 as the Panthers second-busiest defender. Ekblad had four goals, nine assists, 38 PIM, 36 shots and a plus-10 rating in 19 games this postseason. The oft-injured blueliner is an integral part of most fantasy teams, but he has struggled to stay on the ice over the last several seasons. Ekblad is a track-and-drop-down defender at drafts next fall. He delivers when he's on the ice, but there's no guarantee that he'll be out there helping you.

Ekblad logged an assist, four hits and two PIM in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Hurricanes in Game 5.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad finished the Eastern Conference Finals with a goal and four assists over five contests. The defenseman is up to 11 points, 27 shots on net, 38 hits, 17 blocked shots, 26 PIM and a plus-6 rating over 13 playoff appearances. Ekblad will be a key part of the Panthers' defensive structure in all zones as they look to win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years.

Ekblad registered an assist, four hits and four blocked shots in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Hurricanes in Game 3.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad has a goal and three assists in the Eastern Conference Finals, and he's gotten on the scoresheet in seven of his last nine games. Overall, the defenseman has produced 10 points, 25 shots on net, 29 hits, 15 blocks, 24 PIM and a plus-7 rating over 11 playoff outings. Ekblad continues to thrive in a top-four role on defense, which includes power-play usage, though just two of his 10 points have come with the man advantage.

Ekblad had two assists in a 5-0 win over Carolina in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad has three points (one goal, two assists) in two games this series, and he has nine points overall, including three goals, and 24 shots in 10 games. That's Ekblad's best offensive output of any postseason of his career. He had one goal and five assists in 24 games in last season's Cup run.

Ekblad produced an even-strength goal and a power-play assist Wednesday in the Panthers' 6-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 5 of their second-round series.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old blueliner opened the scoring late in the first period, snapping a shot top shelf through traffic on Joseph Woll. Ekblad extended his playoff point streak to five games in the process, and he has two goals and six points in his six appearances for Florida this postseason while adding 22 PIM, 18 hits, 15 shots on net, six blocked shots and a plus-1 rating.

Ekblad notched an assist, two shots on goal, three hits and 10 PIM in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 4.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad has a helper in each of the last three games since returning from a suspension he earned in the first round versus the Lightning. The defenseman set up Sam Bennett with a stretch pass in the third period of Sunday's low-scoring win. Ekblad has four points, nine shots on net, 14 hits, six blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over five playoff appearances in a top-four role.

Ekblad has served his two-game suspension and will be eligible to play in Game 2 against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad has appeared in just two of the Panthers' last 24 games due to a pair of suspensions. In those lone pair of outings, the 29-year-old blueliner generated one goal on three shots, six hits and four blocks while averaging 21:15 of ice time. With Ekblad back in the lineup, Uvis Balinskis figures to be relegated to a spot in the press box as a healthy scratch.

Ekblad was suspended two games Tuesday for elbowing the Lightning's Brandon Hagel in Monday's Game 4.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad will miss Game 5 in the first round. He'll also sit out either Game 6 versus the Lightning if the Panthers lose Wednesday or Game 1 of the second round if the Panthers secure the series win with a victory in Tampa Bay. This was Ekblad's second game back from a 20-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing substances. Look for Uvis Balinskis to be back in the lineup in Ekblad's absence.

Ekblad will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for elbowing Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel (upper body) on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad didn't receive a penalty on the play, but he will probably serve a suspension for his actions in Monday's 4-2 win over the Lightning in Game 4. After a 20-game ban for violating the league's Performance Enhancing Substances Program, the 29-year-old defender has one goal, three shots on net, six hits and four blocked shots in two playoff outings. If Ekblad receives a suspension for Game 5 on Wednesday, Uvis Balinskis will probably return to the lineup.