The Atlantic Division may have just opened up, as the Florida Panthers are now without defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers defenseman was suspended by the NHL today for PED usage.
The Florida Panthers will sorely miss defenseman Aaron Ekblad's presence in the lineup. He won't be missing any games due to an injury, but due to his usage of PEDs.
It was reported today that the defenseman will be suspended from the NHL for 20 games, without pay.
He recently failed a mandatory drug test by the NHL. What are his next steps?
According to the NHL, the suspension also comes with mandatory referral to the league's Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health.
However, according to Ekblad himself, this was all a mistake, and one which cost him and his team dearly in the Eastern Conference as they have loaded up on talent for another Stanley Cup run.
and that he "made a mistake by taking something to help [him] recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel."
Ekblad's mistake could end up costing the Panthers dearly if they fail to make a deep run in a tight Eastern Conference.
The team won the Stanley Cup last season, in a Panthers team that showed resolve after a tough defeat in the finals by Vegas in 2023.
Ekblad's suspension will carry through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs - meaning Florida will be without their No. 1 defenseman for two crucial games.
Now, they'll have to rely on Seth Jones to pick up the pieces, while Ekblade is out for the next 20 games of NHL play.
Coincidentally, he is the first player since 2018 to violate the league's Performance Enhancing Substances program, and his teammate Nate Schmidt was the last to suffer the consequences.
Ekblad is a pending UFA, and this could hurt his stock in the offseason significantly it's a bad look whether he stays with the Panthers organization, or leaves.
