NHL announces 20 game suspension for Florida Panthers Aaron Ekblad
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Moments ago, the NHL announced a massive 20 game suspension to Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad for violating the NHL's performance enhancing substance program.
This will be a major loss for the Florida Panthers, but thankfully for their team, he will only miss 2 playoff games. Ekblad will receive no pay for the suspension, and will sacrifice $1.829M in salary.
Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad suspended 20 games for performance enhancing violation
The NHL's reasoning for the massive and rare suspension is a violation of the performance enchaning substance program.
Florida Panthersdefenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games, without pay, for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment.
- NHL
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment.
- NHL
Ekblad has released a very apologetic statement, claiming that he unknowingly took a banned substance, and pleading for the forgiveness of his teammates.
Oilers fans are even looking back on last season, wondering if Ekblad or any other Panthers may have been using a substance in the Cup Final, or through the playoffs.
Ekblad was a first overall draft pick of the Florida Panthers in 2014, and has gone on to play his entire 732 game NHL career in Florida. Famously, Ekblad has been a player considered to be injury prone, which could perhaps intersect with this suspension.
According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, Ekblad is the first player to be suspended for this infraction since Nate Schmidt in 2018.
The Florida Panthers have also just a blockbuster move to acquire defender Seth Jones, who will be able to fill Ekblad's role for the 20 game suspension. Ekblad may be headed to free agency after the acquisition of Jones, and the Oilers could be a suitor for him in free agency.
We'll see how the NHL and Ekblad responds to news of this major suspension. More details will be updated to this story as they occur.
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