Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced on Wednesday that defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be placed on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury. It is not a season-ending situation, but it is should keep him out of the lineup for the foreseeable future.
Ekblad was hurt during Florida’s contest on Monday, Oct. 17 against Boston. The injury occurred at some point in the second period, causing him to leave the game and not return.
Updates from GM Bill Zito this morning:
Aaron Ekblad will be placed on LTIR, but he says it is not a season-ending situation and looks to be more short-term.
Anthony Duclair is “tracking as planned” and still looks to potentially return December/January.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 19, 2022
In the three games, Florida has had this season, Ekblad has recorded a goal, a blocked shot and four hits.
It’s a situation that unfortunately the Panthers are familiar with. In the last two seasons, Ekblad has missed significant time with leg injuries. An injury ended his 2020-21 season early and last year, Ekblad missed the end of the regular season, but came back during the 2022 playoffs, albeit not at 100%.
When Ekblad has been out in the past, the team has turned to MacKenzie Weegar to step up and take over as the No. 1 defenseman in his place. However, Weegar is now with the Flames, as he was part of the trade to bring in Matthew Tkachuk.
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Florida already has what is considered to be a relatively weak defensive core and now it has taken its biggest hit yet. It’s early in the season, but with the Panthers playing in a tough Atlantic Division, they will need to get all the wins they can get with Ekblad sitting out injured.
What is Aaron Ekblad’s injury?
While the team simply labeled the ailment as a “lower-body injury”, Fox Sports 640’s Andy Slater reported that Ekblad is dealing with a Grade 2 groin strain.
JUST IN: Florida Panthers’ defenseman Aaron Ekblad has a Grade 2 groin strain, multiple sources tell me.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) October 18, 2022
It is different than Ekblad’s previous injuries. In 2021, Ekblad’s season was cut short by a left leg fracture and last year, Ekblad missed the end of the regular season with a right leg injury.
How long is Ekblad out for?
The exact timetable for Ekblad’s injury is unknown at this point. Since Ekblad is being placed on LTIR, the minimum time he can spend being sidelined is 10 games and 24 days, which is how long a player must miss in order to be eligible for long-term injured reserve.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli also reported that while Ekblad would miss time, it wouldn’t be long enough for the Panthers to use his cap space to bring someone else in. Since he’d be on LTIR, Florida would have some cap flexibility, but only would use it if it makes sense.
#FlaPanthers are indeed expecting to miss D Aaron Ekblad for a chunk of time on LTIR with a lower-body injury, the exact timeline TBD. But Ekblad is not expected to be out long enough to allow the Panthers to go shopping to replace him on the cap.@DailyFaceoff
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 19, 2022