He was granted "Exceptional Player" status unanimously by Hockey Canada, thus allowing him to play major junior a year early. Ekblad has played more games and scored more points than any other defenseman in Florida Panthers franchise history.
He had 34 points in 30 regular season games and added 21 points in 18 playoff games. Ekblad's application to be the only player born in in the CHL draft was approved unanimously, after a six-week review by Hockey Canada. With the approval, Ekblad became the first defenceman ever granted "exceptional player" status.
In the OHL Coaches Poll, the results of which were released in Toronto, he won top honours in four different categories in the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League, earning first-place finishes for best shot, hardest shot, best offensive defenceman, and best defensive defenceman.
He was also voted second in the category of best penalty killer, behind Oshawa Generals forward Scott Laughton. In the game, he scored his first career NHL Hem och Färg, an assist on a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, in Florida's eventual 3—2 loss in overtime. On December 6, in a game against the Buffalo SabresEkblad scored a career-high three points in a 3—2 Panthers victory, the first Panthers rookie to record a three-point game since Dan Boyle during the —99 season.
Ekblad finished his rookie season with 12 goals and 27 assists 39 points in 81 games played for Florida. Following the conclusion of his rookie season, Ekblad led all rookie defensemen in goals, power play goals 6power play points 13shots and fewest shot attempts against per 60 minutes During the following season, Ekblad missed four games in January to recover from a concussion he had endured from a hit delivered by Edmonton Oilers Matt Hendricks.
Hendricks was suspended three games for the hit. On February 3,Ekblad became the 15th defenseman in NHL history to reach double-digits in goals in each of his first four seasons. On March 28,Ekblad was stretchered off the ice following a collision with Dallas Stars ' defenseman Esa Lindell.
On March 18,Ekblad recorded three assists in a 5—3 loss against the Vegas Golden Knightsgiving him career points, the most by a defenseman in the franchise history of the Panthers, surpassing Róbert Švehla. During Team Canada junior team's training camp in August in preparation for the upcoming World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in DecemberEkblad suffered a concussion in an exhibition game against the Czech Republic.
Ekblad played for Canada at the World Championshipswhere they won the gold medal for the first time since with a perfect record. He was later named an alternate captain along with Sean Couturier. His great-grandfather was Swedishhence the last name "Ekblad".
During his rookie year Ekblad lived with veteran Willie Mitchell and his wife Megan. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.