Ekblad set to tie Barkov’s Panthers record for games played. Plus injury news
Aaron Ekblad was relatively nonchalant last week when told he was about to play in his 800th career NHL game — becoming just the second Florida Panthers player ever to hit that feat with every one of those games being with the franchise.
“800 is 800,” Ekblad said.
But Tuesday night, just four games since that day, has Ekblad hitting another milestone, one he didn’t think would come — nor does he actually want.
When Ekblad takes the ice as the Panthers host the Ottawa Senators at Amerant Bank Arena, he will be playing in his 804th game for Florida. That ties captain Aleksander Barkov, who has been sidelined all season after undergoing surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his right knee, for the franchise record. He is poised to stand alone at the top on Thursday when the Panthers host the Boston Bruins.
“I don’t want to,’’ Ekblad said last week about potentially passing Barkov’s career games played record. “I hope that’s not bad luck for me, but I mean, I’ll follow [Barkov] anywhere. I hope to continue to follow him throughout his career.’’
Barkov and Ekblad have been two pillars of the Panthers franchise for more than a decade now. Florida drafted Barkov second overall in 2013 and Ekblad with the No. 1 overall pick in 2014. They went through a lot of lean seasons before Florida finally went on this current run of success that has been highlighted by three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final and winning the Stanley Cup each of the past two seasons.
“When you say two Cups, it’s a pinch-yourself moment,” Ekblad said. “Really cool. Amazing accomplishment by our team and just happy to be a part of it. Happy I get to play with such amazing players and good people.”
Ekblad’s teammates can say the same about him. He already holds every scoring record for a Florida defenseman, besting Robert Svehla in goals (122), assists (284), and points (406). He’s going to be a Panther lifer, having signed an eight-year contract extension this offseason that will take him through his age-37 season.
“It’s been amazing, and a wonderful ride,’’ Ekblad said. “I can’t wait to continue it.’’
And he’s happy the Panthers want him to see it through.
“Secondary to us, it’s harder for outside people to measure how good this guy is,’’ Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “I know he is greatly under-appreciated but not in the room, not by the coaches, and not by the players.”
Rodrigues to have surgery
Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues will have surgery to repair the finger he broke in the first period of Florida’s 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Rodrigues finishes his season with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games played. He spent the year playing center despite primarily being a winger due to the assortment of other injuries the Panthers have dealt with this season.
Rodrigues and Barkov aren’t the only Panthers who are now officially out for the reset of the season, which has just nine games left on the schedule.
Maurice said after morning skate every injured player except potentially forward Cole Schwindt is expected to miss the rest of the season.
That means the campaign is also over for forwards Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich as well as defensemen Niko Mikkola and Balinskis.
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