Report: Panthers, Ekblad agree on 8-year, $60M extension

On the eve of free agency, the Florida Panthers reportedly came to terms with one of their franchise cornerstones.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad has agreed to an eight-year, $60-million contract extension, George Richards of the Miami Herald reported late Thursday, citing a source.

He hasn't officially signed, but Richards expects Ekblad to put pen to paper soon.

Ekblad is under contract for one more season - the final year of his entry-level contract - before his new deal kicks in.

The two sides were preparing to sign off on the eight-year pact last Friday, when Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman first reported the terms of the deal.

Ekblad ranked second on the Panthers in average time on ice this season, logging 21:41. The 20-year-old posted 36 points in 78 regular-season games.

He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2015, collecting 39 points and appearing in 81 contests.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leave a Reply