Florida Panthers Reportedly Reach Eight Year Extension with Aaron Ekblad

The Florida Panthers announced late Thursday night that they have reached an agreement with defenseman Aaron Ekblad on an eight-year contract extension worth 60 million-dollars. 

George Richards of the Miami Herald, cited a source that said while Ekblad has not officially put the pen to the paper just yet, the two sides appear to have reached the agreement on the eight-year extension. 

Ekblad is still under contract for one more season on his current entry level deal with the club, so the extension would not kick in to effect until the 2017-2018. The new extension can’t be officially signed until noon, on July 1^st, due to the fact that he is not a free agent this summer. 

As there was some concern that Ekblad could receive a huge offer sheet next summer, the Panthers were looking to get something done sooner, rather than later. The young defenseman will be the cornerstone to the franchise.

Ekblad was second on the Panthers in ice time this past season, while logging 21:41 per game. The 20-year-old blueliner put up 36 points in 78 games during the regular season. 

During his rookie season, in 2014-2015, he scored 39 points over 81 games for the Cats. He took home the Calder Trophy as the National Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year for his efforts. 

The Panthers also announced that they resigned forward Greg McKegg to a one-year, two-way deal. The 24-year-old scored two goals in 15 games with the Cats this past year. In 47 games with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League, he put up 10 goals and 13 assists. 

In addition, the organization also noted that they hired, Leo Luongo, the younger brother of goaltender Roberto Luongo, to serve as the goalie coach for their AHL affiliate the Springfield Thunderbirds. The younger Luongo, was with Hockey Club Lugano of the Swiss National League A, the last three seasons. 

He has also served as the goaltending and video coach for Lugano (2015) and Team Canada (2013, 2014) in the Spengler Cup Tournament. 

Prior to that the Montreal, Quebec native, was a goaltending consultant and instructor for Hockey Canada (2009-2011), goaltending coach for Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior League (2007-2013) and a voluntary goaltending coach for the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch (2012-2013).