According to the Miami Herald’s George Richards, the Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Aaron Ekblad to an eight-year contract extension worth $60 million.
.@FlaPanthers and Aaron Ekblad forge long-term partnership via eight-year contract extension…@Ekblad5FLA https://t.co/vOQ2GbDrfE
— –George Richards– (@GeorgeRichards) July 1, 2016
The contract will not be official until the NHL’s new fiscal year begins at noon today. Ekblad’s new deal will kick in for the 2017-18 season. He will make $925K this season, the last of his entry-level contract.
Florida took Ekblad first overall in the 2014 Entry Draft. The now 20-year-old won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year and followed that up with a 15-goal, 36 point effort his past season. Ekblad’s 15 goals and +18-rating in 2015-16 were career bests.