Eklblad has served his 20-game suspension and will be eligible to face the Lightning in Game 3 on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad figures to slot into a top-four pairing in addition to linking up with one of the power-play units. Prior to his ban, the veteran blueliner was riding a six-game point streak in which he racked up seven helpers, including a pair with the man advantage. Uvis Balinskis figures to be the odd man out on the blue line with Ekblad back in the lineup.

Ekblad (suspension) will be allowed to resume training with the Panthers, Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post reports Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad won't be eligible to play until Game 3 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he should be on the ice with his teammates in the meantime. Prior to his suspension, the blueliner was finding his stride offensively with seven helpers in his last six games, including two with the man advantage.

The NHL announced Monday that Ekblad has been suspended 20 games for violating the league's Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

EDGE Analysis

Since the Panthers have just 18 games remaining on their schedule, Ekblad will miss the remainder of the regular season and the first two games of the postseason due to his suspension. Prior to his suspension, the 29-year-old had bounced back from a quiet 2023-24 campaign, as he recorded three goals, 30 assists, 90 hits, 64 blocked shots and 53 PIM while averaging 23:31 of ice time to begin the 2024-25 season. The Panthers will be forced to rely more upon new acquisition Seth Jones down the stretch, while Ekblad is slated to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason.

Ekblad registered a power-play assist, had two PIM, and provided three hits in Monday's 2-1 win against Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad notched a secondary helper on Aleksander Barkov's go-ahead goal in the second period. The 29-year-old Ekblad is up to 28 assists, 31 points, 105 shots on goal and 88 hits in 54 games this season. With the recent acquisition of blueliner Seth Jones from Chicago, Ekblad gained some sizable competition for ice time with Florida's first power-play unit. Ekblad's assist Monday helps bolster his resume on the power play, where he has 10 of his 28 helpers this season. Jones joins the Panthers with 15 power-play points, but it seems as if Florida is placing its trust in the 11-year Panthers veteran Ekblad for the time being. While Ekblad is on the first-power play unit, he has decent value in standard fantasy formats.

Ekblad delivered an assist and four PIM in Saturday's 3-0 win over Calgary.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad is riding a three-game, four-assist scoring streak, and he has 30 points, including 27 helpers, and 104 shots in 53 games. That puts him on pace to top the 40-point mark for the third time in his career. But his role on the top power-play unit could be at risk with the arrival of Seth Jones in a trade Saturday night.

Ekblad produced two assists in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Oilers.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old blueliner had a hand in Anton Lundell's second-period tally and Carter Verhaeghe's game-winner in the third. Ekblad had a slow start to the season and missed a big chunk of January with an upper-body injury, but since returning to the lineup, he's racked up a goal and nine points over 11 contests.

Ekblad logged an assist and three shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad has five helpers over nine contests since his last multi-point effort. The 29-year-old defenseman made his mark Tuesday by setting up defense partner Gustav Forsling for a goal in the third period. Ekblad is up to 27 points, 99 shots on net, 83 hits, 63 blocked shots, 43 PIM and a plus-9 rating through 51 appearances, nine points better than what he produced in the same number of games in the 2023-24 regular season.

Ekblad logged an assist, three shots on goal, three blocked shots, two hits, two PIM and a plus-3 rating in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Islanders.

EDGE Analysis

It was an all-around strong performance for Ekblad, who was rewarded with a helper on Matthew Tkachuk's empty-netter. Ekblad has earned five points over five contests since returning from an upper-body injury. The defenseman is up to 25 points, 88 shots, 69 hits, 59 blocks, 41 PIM and a plus-7 rating through 46 outings overall. He continues to provide good category coverage in a top-pairing role.

Ekblad scored a goal and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Sharks.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad had missed eight of the last nine games due to an upper-body injury. He was able to ease back in Saturday, playing 18:50 in the blowout win. The defenseman resumed his roles on the first pairing and on the power play. He had been held off the scoresheet in his last six outings, so fantasy managers will be optimistic to see him scoring right out the gate from his return. Ekblad has three goals, 22 points, 77 shots on net, 59 hits, 56 blocked shots, 39 PIM and a plus-5 rating over 43 appearances.

Ekblad (upper body) will play Saturday against San Jose, according to Doug Plagens of the Panthers Radio Network.

EDGE Analysis

Ekblad missed eight of the last nine games, including seven straight outings. He has registered two goals, 20 points, 76 shots on net, 55 blocked shots and 59 hits through 41 appearances this season. Ekblad will replace Uvis Balinskis or Tobias Bjornfot in Saturday's lineup.