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Aaron Ekblad (concussion) signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers on Wednesday.

Ekblad (concussion) signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers on Wednesday.

Analysis:

Ekblad, who was chosen No. 1 overall by the Panthers in June's NHL Entry Draft, is expected to contribute with the big club right away, assuming the concussion he incurred in the summer doesn't prove problematic. The last report indicated his symptoms have almost completely dissipated, suggesting he'll be on track to participate fully in training camp. Although he offers plenty of long-term fantasy appeal after ranking tops in the OHL among defensemen with 23 goals last season, the transition to the NHL represents a much steeper challenge. Don't expect him to offer production on the par with some of the league's better offensive blueliners immediately.

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