Maple Leafs Given Golden Opportunity After New Aaron Ekblad UFA Development

Though he's fighting for a Stanley Cup currently, Panthers defenseman and pending UFA Aaron Ekblad certainly has a lot to think about regarding his future. Does he want to try and make some more money elsewhere, or stay comfortably in Florida and keep winning?

According to a new report from ESPN Senior Writer Greg Wyshynski, who was speaking on Jeff Marek's 'The Sheet' podcast, Ekblad will be betting on himself this summer and test the free agent market:

While he didn't explicitly state a team that Ekblad would be interested in joining or the amount of money, but mentioned that Florida being keen on keeping Bennett would lead to Ekblad as well as Brad Marchand leaving town.

It seems like an impossibility, but it isn't impossible. With the acquisition of Seth Jones earlier this season, the Panthers basically told Ekblad 'We have our guy.'

Perhaps feeling a bit disparaged from his former team, he could end up making bank and looking for a bit of vengeance going forward.

That plays perfectly into Toronto's hands, as they can give him the reins to run the defense and say 'Morgan Rielly isn't it, you are.' Ekblad would be a massive improvement defensively over Rielly, can offer an equal level of point production with a better shot, and he adds a nasty edge that Rielly lacks.

If Toronto were to splurge and sign him for six-years at $52.5M he would get a massive pay raise annually ($1.25M), be the face of the franchise's defense going forward, and allow him to make a TON on endorsement deals.

It's the same pitch they can use to try and bring in Marchand as well, and if they were able to bring in both players it could be considered a massive coup for the Maple Leafs.

Not to mention he would be a lot closer to friends and family, and while the Windsor native isn't exactly close to Toronto, he's a stone's throw compared to Florida.

Plus it gives Toronto a way to move on from Morgan Rielly, and see if they can send him and his $7.5M deal elsewhere for something more palatable for the current regime.

Ekblad, 29 and a former first overall pick, has 380 points in 732 career games (118G, 262A) and has only missed double digit goals in three seasons. He also won the Calder in 2014-15, and the Stanley Cup with Florida in 2023-24.