| Born: | February 7, 1996 | Draft: | 2014 Panthers, 1st Overall |
| Hometown: | Windsor, ON, CAN | Position: | D |
| Known For: | Calder Trophy Winner | Shoots: | Right |
| National Team: | Canada | Current Team: | Florida Panthers |
Aaron Ekblad (born February 7, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ekblad was selected first overall in the 2011 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) entry draft, and he was selected first overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In his first NHL season, Ekblad was selected for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s best rookie in the 2014–15 season.
Prior to joining the NHL, Ekblad played major junior hockey for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League. He was granted “Exceptional Player” status unanimously by Hockey Canada, thus allowing him to play major junior a year early.
Aaron Ekblad Statistics
Deeper Dive
- Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad Is a Shell of What He Once Was
- Aaron Ekblad Is the Panthers’ All-Time Best Defenseman
- Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad Is Finally Reaching Full Potential
- Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad Should Have Sights on Norris Trophy
- The Best Defenseman You Don’t Know (Much) About
- Aaron Ekblad – The Next Ones: NHL 2014 Draft Prospect Profile
Achievements
- Alliance Hockey Bantam AAA Champion — 2009-10
- OHF Bantam AAA Championship Top Defenceman — 2009-10
- NHLPA AllState All-Canadian Mentorship — 2010-11
- OHL First All-Rookie Team — 2011-12
- OHL Rookie of the Year (Emms Family Award) — 2011-12
- U17 WHC Bronze Medal — 2011-12
- Hlinka Memorial Gold Medal — 2013-14
- OHL CHL Subway Series — 2013-14
- OHL First All-Star Team — 2013-14
- OHL Most Goals by Defenseman (23) — 2013-14
- OHL Most Outstanding Defenseman (Max Kaminsky Trophy) — 2013-14
- NHL All-Rookie Team — 2014-15
- NHL All-Star Game — 2014-15
- NHL Rookie of the Year (Calder Trophy) — 2014-15
- World Championship Gold Medal — 2014-15
- World Championship Most Goals by Defenseman (4) — 2014-15
- NHL All-Star Game — 2015-16
- World Championship Top 3 Player on Team — 2017-18
- Alternate Captain — 2016-