The NHL has suspended Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad for 20 games, without pay, for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Ekblad will also attend the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health under mandatory referral for evaluation and possible treatment.
The NHL, per their media site, has no further comment on the matter.
Aaron Ekblad released a statement through the NHLPA about the suspension.
The length of the suspension is the same as the others that have been handed out for the PED program violation, including Sean Hill, Shawn Horcoff, and most recently Nate Schmidt.
Per PuckPedia, the Florida Panthers will not carry a cap hit for Aaron Ekblad during the suspension.
The pending unrestricted free agent will be eligible to return to action during the third game of the Florida Panthers first round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 2014 first-overall draft selection turned 29 in February and has collected 380 points (118G, 262A) alongside 505 PIMs, a career plus-minus of plus-96 in 732 NHL games, all with the Florida Panthers. He also has 20 points (4G, 16A) in 64 post-season games, including back-to-back appearances in the 2023 and 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.
Ekblad contributed six points (1G, 5A) in 24 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs games during the Panthers’ 2024 Stanley Cup run.
Ekblad ends his 2024-25 season amassing 33 points (3G, 30A) in 56 games. The Panthers currently sit in first place in the Atlantic Division, second in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the league.
The Panthers are now without the services of Ekblad and star forward Matthew Tkachuk for an extended period of time.
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