Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games without pay for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, the league announced on Monday.
Ekblad, 29, will miss the remaining 18 regular-season games and the first two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The suspension includes a mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment.
In a statement released by the NHL Players’ Association, Ekblad expressed shock at the failed drug test but accepted responsibility, stating he took a substance to aid recovery from injuries without consulting proper medical personnel. He apologized to his teammates, the Panthers organization, and fans, acknowledging he made a mistake and is committed to returning fully prepared after serving his suspension.
This marks the first NHL suspension for a performance-enhancing substances violation since 2018, when defenseman Nate Schmidt, now Ekblad’s teammate in Florida, received a similar ban.
Ekblad, selected first overall by Florida in the 2014 NHL Draft, has been a cornerstone of the Panthers’ defense. This season, he has recorded 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 56 games, leading the team’s skaters in average time on ice (23:30). He played a pivotal role in Florida’s first Stanley Cup victory last season. Ekblad is in the final year of his eight-year contract and is slated to become a free agent this upcoming offseason.
The Panthers (40-21-3) currently lead the Atlantic Division by four points over the Toronto Maple Leafs. They will face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday in their first game without Ekblad.
