#5 Aaron Ekblad

How Acquired: Selected by Florida in the 1st Round (1st overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft

2025 Playoffs:

  • Paced all Panthers defensemen with a career playoff-high 13 points (4-9-13), becoming a Stanley Cup champion with Florida for the second consecutive season
  • Three-game point streak (1-3-4), Eastern Conference Final Game 1- Eastern Conference Final Game 3
  • Tallied goal in Eastern Conference Final Game 1, May 20 at CAR
  • Led all Panthers d-men in points (1-4-5) in 2025 Round 2 vs. TOR
  • Produced a three-game assist streak Round 2, Game 2 - Round 2, Game 4 vs. TOR
  • Scored goal (1-0-1) in Round 1, Game 4, April 28 vs. TBL
  • Made playoff debut Round 1, Game 3, April 26 vs. TBL

2024-25 Notes:

  • Produced at a .59 point per games played rate – the highest of any Panthers defenseman in 2024-25 – recording 33 points (3-30-33) over 56 games.
  • Set a new career high six-game assist streak (0-7-7), Feb. 25-March 8
  • Notched 250th assist with Florida, surpassing S. Weiss for third all-time in franchise history, Dec. 22 at TBL
  • Recorded a three-game point streak (1-4-5), Dec. 16-20
  • Tallied three points (1-2-3), Dec. 18 at MIN
  • Established a season-high four-game point streak (1-4-5), Nov. 27-Dec. 3
  • Scored the game-winning goal, Nov. 30 vs. CAR
  • Skated in 700th career NHL game, Nov. 29 at CAR
  • Recorded season-high three assists (0-3-3), Nov. 1 at DAL (Finland Global Series)
  • Posted a career-high 7 blocked shots, Oct. 19 vs. VGK

PLAYOFF HIGHLIGHTS

  • Won the 2023-24 Stanley Cup with Florida as the club’s longest-tenured active defenseman, producing six points (1-5-6) and a plus-four rating over 24 postseason games.
  • Led Florida with 48 blocked shots during the 2023-24 postseason, ranking third on the team in total time on ice (541:09)
  • Produced eight points (2-6-8) over 20 games in Florida’s run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, including a plus-nine rating that led all Florida defensemen
  • Skated a career-high 52:10 in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final at CAR
  • Skated in six games against BOS in 2022-23
  • Produced 5 points (1-4-5) over 10 games against WSH and TBL in 2021-22
  • Appeared in four games with Florida in 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers vs. NYI
  • Appeared in six playoff games with Florida in 2015-16, notching one assist (0- 1-1) against NYI

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Became the fifth No. 1 pick in NHL history to play at least 600 regular-season games for the franchise that drafted him before winning a Cup with them – and the only defenseman to do so (also Alex Ovechkin: 1,003 w/ WSH; Steven Stamkos: 803 w/ TBL; Mike Modano: 710 w/ DAL/MNS; and Nathan MacKinnon: 638 w/ COL; the next player on the list is defenseman Denis Potvin: 498 w/ NYI).
  • Skated in his 672nd NHL game, surpassing J. Huberdeau for 2nd most games played in franchise history, March 9, 2024 vs. CGY
  • Notched an assist for his 230th career helper, surpassing R. Svehla for most by a defenseman in club history, March 5, 2024 at NJD
  • Florida’s all-time leader by a defenseman in games played, goals, assists, points, overtime goals, and game-winning goals in the regular season.
  • Career-high four points (2-2-4), two PPGs, passed R. Svehla (26) for most PPGs by Florida D-man in franchise history, March 4, 2021 at NSH
  • Selected to play in two NHL All-Star Games (2015, 2016)
  • 2014-15 Calder Memorial Trophy Winner
  • Named to 2014-15 NHL All-Rookie Team
  • Tied with Jason Garrison (2011-12) and Brandon Montour (2022-23) for the Panthers franchise single season goals by a defenseman record (16, 2017-18)
  • In 2019-20, tied for first in the NHL for shifts per game (30.1)
  • Scored his 62nd NHL goal, breaking franchise record for goals by a defenseman, Jan. 19, 2020 at NSH
  • In his first NHL season, led all rookie defensemen in goals (12), PPGS (6), PP points (13) and shots (170), while ranking 2nd in assists (27) and points (39) en route to winning the Calder Trophy
  • Owns Panthers rookie defensemen records for goals (12), assists (27) and points (39)
  • In 2014-15 became the third-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history to begin his career as an 18-year old, trailing only Phil Housley (66) and Bobby Orr (41)
  • Won 2013-14 OHL Max Kaminsky Trophy for League’s most Outstanding Defenseman and led the OHL’s defensemen with 23 goals
  • Named to 2013-14 OHL First All-Star Team and played in the OHL CHL Subway Series
  • In a 2014 poll among OHL coaches was voted first in best shot, hardest shot, best offensive defenseman and best defensive defenseman in the Eastern Conference
  • Won 2011-12 OHL Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year)
  • Named to 2011-12 OHL First All-Rookie Team
  • Granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada to enter the Canadian Hockey League as a 15-year old
  • Selected first overall by the Barrie Colts in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection

FIRSTS/SINGLE-GAME HIGHS/STREAKS

First NHL Game: Oct. 9, 2014 at TBL

First NHL Goal: Nov. 1, 2014 vs. PHI

Most Goals, Single Game: 2 (6X), Last: March 16, 2023 vs. MTL

Most Assists, Single Game: 4, March 10, 2022 vs. PHI

Most Points, Single Game: 4 (3X), Last: Jan. 19, 2024 vs. MIN

Most PIM, Single Game: 12, Dec. 21, 2022 vs. NJD

Most Shots, Single Game: 9 (3X), Last: Nov. 19, 2018 at ANA

Longest Goal Streak: 4 Games, Feb. 16-22, 2022

Longest Assist Streak: 6 Games, Feb. 25 – March 8, 2025

Longest Point Streak: 7 Games, March 27-April 8, 2023

CAREER PLAYOFFS

Most Goals, Single Game: 1 (8X), Last: June 9, 2025 vs. EDM

Most Assists, Single Game: 2 (3X), Last: May 22, 2025 at CAR

Most Points, Single Game: 2 (5X), Last: May 22, 2025 at CAR

Most Shots, Single Game: 6, May 14, 2025 at TOR