Ekblad (neck, concussion) indicated that he was symptom-free when he returned to the lineup on March 21, but game action caused the symptoms to resurface and therefore forced him out of the final 10 games of the season, George Richards of the Miami Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

This most recent concussion is the third that Ekblad has been diagnosed with dating back to January 2016, with each of the two most recent concussions being accompanied by neck problems, as well. When trying to determine the reasons behind Ekblad's poor 2016-17 season, where he recorded career-worst amounts in goals (10), assists (11), points (21), and plus-minus rating (minus-23), the concussion problems he has dealt with have to be the main suspect. If this happens to be the case, the entire hockey community will be rooting for the first-overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and 2015 Calder Trophy winner to get back to his best.