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Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad Suspended 20 Games for PED Violation

The defenseman accepted responsibility for failing a random drug test and will miss the remainder of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

Overview

  • Aaron Ekblad, a key defenseman for the Florida Panthers, has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
  • Ekblad admitted to taking a substance to aid recovery from injuries without consulting medical or team personnel and expressed regret in a public statement.
  • The suspension will sideline Ekblad for the Panthers' final 18 regular-season games and at least the first two playoff games, pending their progression.
  • This is the first PED-related suspension in the NHL since 2018, highlighting the rarity of such violations in the league.
  • Ekblad is in the final year of his eight-year contract, and his future with the Panthers is uncertain as the team recently acquired defenseman Seth Jones, potentially signaling a shift in roster strategy.