[Pagnotta] C’est une partie difficile du métier… On m’a dit que les Panthers envisageaient de recruter le défenseur Aaron Ekblad.
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tampapat54
@Panthers de la Floride
[Pagnotta] C’est une partie difficile du métier… On m’a dit que les Panthers envisageaient de recruter le défenseur Aaron Ekblad.
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tampapat54
35 Comments
😢
I knew we were gonna look different, but fuck, not our own lol
They need hard forechecking forwards.
Seems like the D can be cobbled together as needed.
I’m usually pretty critical of Ekblad. I think he’s incredibly inconsistent and too prone to just forgetting he’s playing hockey in the defensive zone to be worth anywhere near his contract. I think he’s more of a like lower second pair guy, not a first pair dman. He’s insanely frustrating because he’s clearly got a ton of talent, he just manages to spectacularly fail to showcase that talent in crazy ways pretty often. I know he’s had a couple of major injuries now and they’ve clearly hindered his ability which absolutely sucks, but overall I think the Panthers can do better for less money in Ekblad’s spot on the roster so it’s smart to have a look around.
That said, the guy was an absolute monster in the finals. He made so many great plays via pure effort and determination, intelligence, and skill, he was like a completely different player from the rest of the season and earlier rounds in the playoffs (in the previous rounds IMO he was basically the worst defenseman on the team). Regardless of what happens, he was a critical piece of bringing the cup home in the biggest moments of the entire push for it and should be remembered as a Panthers hero.
As much crap as we give Ekky, it’s gonna be pretty sad to see him go LOL.
No ☹️
That’s the right move. Dude is too injury prone and the 7.5 can be better used elsewhere.
No they’re not
If they do trade him, I’d really like to see them add some goals to the lineup.
*sad cat noises* 😿
Legend but not worth the contract
Sad. Don’t got anything bad to say about a guy who stuck with it through all the down years and was often the scapegoat even during our good times. We knew the team wouldn’t look the same but this hurts.
Whether he leaves or stays, he is now a Panthers legend.
Damn this feels brutal. I know he’s not really worth his cap hit anymore but I really thought we’d just ride out his contract & then re-sign him for a much lower number. I guess we’re really trying to keep Montour?? If he goes at least he goes out a champion
It’s disappointing cuz of how soon it’s being talked about BUT it was bound to happen. Can’t stay healthy, he’s a lot slower and often times pinching too much which leads to odd man rushes the other way. I appreciate everything he’s done and sticking with the team but I’m positive he understands this as well. Especially after Huberdeau was traded
I’m not surprised by this. It’ll be a very sad day but if it happens I understand why.
I’m really worried how different this team is gonna look next year. So many guys about to become free agents.
Ekblad for nurse straight across
I know he’s been a pretty polarizing figure in this sub for a while, but I love Ekblad. He’s had some ups and downs for sure, but he was an absolute beauty to watch in the finals, and I’d be heartbroken to see him go.
I will be PISSED
If this does end up being true (from what I understand Pagnotta is known for being wrong all the time), I just hope they send him out West so I can still cheer for the guy. EDIT – Also, possibly hot take but I think his number should get retired when it’s all said and done.
Would it still make sense to trade him if he’s willing to take a significant pay cut the following year? I would like to keep Ekblad at a big discount relative to what he’s paid now.
let em talk, I’ll wait til it happens if it does to care
Pagnotta is always hit or miss. Now, it wouldn’t surprise me if we shopped him around but I’m not sure if anything will actually happen with it.
Business is business, but Ek is a cat for life no matter what.
We have to face the reality that our defense could look very different going into /after 2024-2025 ekblad could be traded and his contract will be up, montour is a free agent and oel and kulikov are free agents as well they were only on 1 year deals. Forsling and mikkola are the only guys from our top 6 that are locked up long term
He’s just too slow defensively. He loses foot races constantly. His effort is usually there and he has size. That’s about it. Not worth his contract and we should be trying to free that space up while selling high on him when he has the glow of the cup win on him still.
Man this sucks. He has been here since the draft. And he did very good in the playoffs. I hope they get at least something good back for him.. feels the same like with Huberdeau, but it was a good trade in the end fortunately for us.
he accomplished his mission and won the Stanley Cup with the team that drafted him. I’d be sad to see him go if that’s the case, but I trust Zito and the front office’s will to win and keep winning. whatever it takes, I suppose.
Pagnotta. Esto nada
I’ll miss him if he truly is gone. I met him last year randomly at a restaurant during the all star break and he was the friendliest guy. He’ll be going down at a defensive panther legend either way
Can we have the parade first and THEN talk about all this stuff…
This would be insane imo but I’m not a hardcore panthers fan. He was almost in tears after winning the cup and talking about Florida. He’s still Good and it’s not like he’s some broken down old guy…what’s the motivation here assuming the report is correct?
It’s the right move. He’s not a #1 Dman but can play a defensive game. 7.5 mill is a lot of cap space for a replaceable role. Love the guy and happy he got his cup
That one Panther fan on the hockey sub saying Ekblad is the worst dman in the league cracks me up. Literally no evidence to back up his ridiculous claim but repeats it over and over again. Thinking you can win a Cup with the worst dman on your top pair against the best player in the world is hilarious