The Florida Panthers are the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions. They defeated Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers for their second win in as many years. To help them win their second championship, they acquired veteran Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins.
Long-time Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was one of three key extensions that the organization locked in this summer (in addition to Sam Bennett and Marchand). Ekblad revealed in a recent interview why he wanted to extend with the Panthers and what he and Marchand have in common.
Ekblad was drafted first overall in the 2014 draft by the Panthers. The 6-foot-4, 220 lb defender has spent his entire career with the Panthers. In the 2024-25 season, he recorded 33 points in 56 games.
Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad Echoes Brad Marchand’s Statement
In a recent interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG Media, Ekblad revealed his approach to this phase of his career – and how he and Marchand want the same thing.
“Obviously, you want to play for a winner,” Ekblad said to Siddiqi. “Hopefully, they don’t get tired of me. I heard Marchand say it in an interview the other day, that they’re going to have to kick him out of the league, and they’ll be having to do the same thing with me.”
Both players want to be playing in the NHL until they can’t anymore. This determined mentality is part of what has made the Panthers a successful organization in recent years.
Aside from the two Stanley Cups, the two players (along with Sam Bennett) have grown close to each other off the ice.
“Even our wives all love each other,” Ekblad revealed in the interview. “Guys are having kids, we’re going to grow up together, and their kids are going to grow up together and hopefully my kids one day. It’s a family aspect. It’s home where the heart is type of thing.”
“A place is only as good as the people in it, and we have great people.”
Panthers Could Have Lost Ekblad in Free Agency
James Mirtle of The Athletic revealed that Ekblad could have signed for a much bigger contract, with a different team, if he had made it to free agency.
“Ekblad could have signed for a much thicker average annual value in Michigan than the $6.1 million he took with Florida,” Mirtle recently wrote. Considering that the Detroit Red Wings are looking to take another step forward this season, they were primed and ready to pitch for Ekblad’s services.
Ultimately, that didn’t happen. As a result, the Red Wings have needed to look elsewhere for help on their backend. Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker were signed for defensive depth.
Ekblad Was a Big Factor in Marchand Staying With the Panthers
In a separate interview, Marchand revealed one of the reasons why he extended with the Panthers.
“Bennett and E (Ekblad) coming back were huge factors in me staying,” Marchand told Siddiqi in an earlier interview. “Those guys are awesome, guys that I really vibe with well, and I really wanted to stay there.”
“I want to play as long as I possibly can.”
Relationships are essential, especially in sports. Often, players have a positive outlook when they arrive on a team with people they already know.
When you are on the same page about different things off the ice, it makes playing together on the ice easier. Ekblad and Marchand both want to play until the wheels fall off.
After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, you can’t fault the 29-year-old defender for that.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand Want the Same Thing appeared first on Heavy Sports.