The Detroit Red Wings need to make some big moves in NHL Free Agency this summer. They are well-positioned to do so financially, but the pressure is mounting in the Motor City after nine years without playoff hockey. One player the Red Wings are regularly linked to is Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
Ekblad has spent over a decade in South Florida with the Panthers. However, the 29-year-old is about to hit NHL Free Agency for the first time. He makes sense for any team looking to upgrade their blueline this summer. However, not everyone is looking to see Detroit make a run at the veteran.
The Hockey News reporter Caleb Kerney created a list of four free agents Detroit needs to avoid this summer. Ekblad is on this list. Kerney mentioned his availability as the main reason the Red Wings should steer clear in NHL Free Agency.
“Yes, Aaron Ekblad is a Stanley Cup Champion. And yes, he has good two-way ability. The main concern with the Florida Panthers defender is his durability and injury history,” Kerney wrote. “He hasn’t played a full season over the past six seasons because of injuries. The best way a player can improve a team is by actually playing. That’s not a guarantee with Ekblad.”
Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad Was Suspended Twice in 2025
Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesFlorida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will hit free agency on the heels of multiple suspensions.
Ekblad does have an injury history that teams like the Red Wings should consider when he hits NHL Free Agency. However, another consideration is the two suspensions he received in the 2025 calendar year. One was for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, which cost him 20 games after the trade deadline.
“The news that I had failed a random drug test was a shock,” Ekblad said in a statement released by the NHL Players’ Association in March. “Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel.
“I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.”
The second suspension came shortly after his return from the first. And it came in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ekblad received a two-game suspension for a hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning star Brandon Hagel.
These suspensions certainly don’t define a player like Ekblad. But they are factors that will come into play should he reach NHL Free Agency. Especially if his market is as robust as it’s expected to be.
Does Ekblad Fit With Red Wings?
The Red Wings need to address a number of positions if they wish to compete in 2025-26. For instance, Detroit needs a top-six forward to complement Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond. However, another area of need is top-four defenseman.
Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson are very good defenders already in their young careers. Beyond them, however, the depth is a bit spotty. Albert Johansson showed promise in a limited role. And Ben Chiarot had his moments. The rest of the group left little to be desired.
Ekblad remains a solid top-four option. His play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — Hagel hit notwithstanding — shows he can elevate his game to a high level. Detroit needs a player like this playing significant minutes.
The Red Wings need to determine if his injury history is worth the risk. Ekblad makes sense as a potential option on the open market. But there are reasons for Detroit to look elsewhere in NHL Free Agency this summer.
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