What has gone on with Aaron Ekblad this season? Let the Panthers’ defenseman explain
Aaron Ekblad doesn’t need any reminders about how his season has gone to this point.
“It’s been tough,” the Florida Panthers’ star defenseman said Monday. “It hasn’t been easy for a second out there.”
He missed 11 games early this season with a groin injury sustained in the Panthers’ game against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 17 and simply hasn’t looked the same since.
Heading into the Panthers’ home game against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, Ekblad has tallied just 14 points — four goals, 10 assists — in 27 games. He has produced points in just one of his past 11 games — a two-assist game on Dec. 17 against the New Jersey Devils — and hasn’t scored a goal since scoring in three straight games Nov. 23, 26 and 28.
The effort on the other end has been even more troublesome. Ekblad has a plus/minus rating of minus-15, meaning the Panthers have been outscored by 15 goals when Ekblad is on the ice at even strength or on the power play.
“Minor mistakes in this game turn into pucks in the back of our net,” Ekblad said. “I have been a prime example of that this season. Just trying to find the positives, try to build momentum on a daily basis.”
Ekblad’s struggles individually mirror the Panthers’ troubles collectively. The team is underperforming and is sitting near the bottom of the standings as the season approaches the halfway mark.
Ekblad knows all it takes it one good game, one good performance, to spark a turnaround — both individually and for the team. He’s hopeful that will come sooner than later and that he can start making up for a rough first half of the 2022-23 season.
“Streaks can be mounting in either direction,’’ he said. “It is important to nip them in the bud. We have done a decent job of coming back after losses by playing hard. We played hard [Sunday night in a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers] and didn’t get the result we wanted. Now we have to come out hard [Tuesday against Arizona].”
Panthers coach Paul Maurice on Monday acknowledged Ekblad’s struggles but neither the coach nor the defenseman attributed Ekblad’s injuries this season as a reason for his underwhelming performance to date.
“I’m just going to say: If you’re in the lineup, you’re 100 percent healthy,” Maurice said. “If he is injured and in the lineup, I’m not telling you.”
Maurice then followed that by saying Ekblad is “building his game and learning to adapt his game where he is at right now with what he can accomplish” — a line of coach speak Maurice couldn’t even believe he uttered (“I’ll be running for office next week,” Maurice quickly quipped afterward.)
In general terms, Maurice was stating the obvious without flat out saying it: Ekblad isn’t playing to the high standard he has become known for, the standard that had him in the conversation for the James Norris Memorial Trophy given to the league’s best defenseman the past two seasons before being sidetracked by injuries.
What will it take for Ekblad to get back to some semblance of that standard? Maurice has an idea.
“Most guys, when they are struggling, you have to concentrate on their defensive game and get heavy. Get in the fight a little bit. The opposite is true for Aaron,” Maurice said. “He is trying to drive over, be physical. Him getting back up the ice at the right time is the starting point for him.”
And for Ekblad? His focus is trying to stay even-keeled even when his performance so far this season has given him all the reason to get frustrated.
“Letting frustration get the best of you is never good for anyone,” Ekblad said. “I prepare, I work hard daily and try to come to the rink with a positive attitude, pay attention to little details. Things are always going to happen. How you react to that, how you come to the rink every day, prepare and work is the difference maker. That is the attitude I have built into my game for years now.’’
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