Panthers to place Ekblad on LTIR

The Florida Panthers will place defenseman Aaron Ekblad on long-term injured reserve, general manager Bill Zito said Wednesday, according to team digital content manager Jameson Olive.

Ekblad left Monday's loss to the Boston Bruins with what head coach Paul Maurice described postgame as a lower-body injury.

The 26-year-old has had terrible luck with injuries over the last three seasons. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher during a game in March 2021 and missed the rest of that campaign, playing only 35 of 56 contests. Then, last March, he sustained another leg injury and missed the rest of the 2021-22 regular season before returning in the playoffs.

"He'll be back. It's not a season-ending thing," Zito said Wednesday. "We have every reason to believe he'll be back at 100%."

Players on LTIR must miss 10 games and 24 days. The move would provide the Panthers with $7.5 million in cap relief. However, the talented blue-liner isn't expected to be out long enough for Florida to acquire a replacement, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

Ekblad racked up 57 points while averaging 24:55 of ice time in 61 games last season. He finished sixth in voting for the Norris Trophy despite missing one-quarter of the campaign.

The Ontario-born rearguard is in his ninth NHL season, all of which he's played with the Panthers, who drafted him first overall in 2014.