Nashville Predators Linked to Ekblad as Panthers Look for Trade

After a team wins the Stanley Cup, the roster is bound to change. With extensions coming for players on the Florida Panthers, general manager Bill Zito appears to be shopping Aaron Ekblad.

It has become more evident that Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour are more impactful in Florida, but Ekblad is paid the most. David Pagnotta reported that Ekblad is willing to take a hometown discount, but the assistant captain of the Panthers is still being shopped regardless.

While there were three teams mentioned, including the Nashville Predators, Utah HC, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the latter two have since made moves to address the need for a top pairing/top-4 defenseman. Utah traded for both Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino while the Maple Leafs acquired the rights to Chris Tanev.

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The Predators have yet to make a big move and it seems like a couple of players that should be targets in free agency may be scooped up and signed by the New Jersey Devils as Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon are both linked there after Marino was moved.

The 28-year-old Ekblad could fit in nicely on the Predators as he should still be considered a top defenseman after a down year offensively. He scored just four goals and recorded 18 points in 51 games, but has scored at least 10 goals as a defenseman in eight of his 10 seasons in the league.

Ekblad missed time with an injury and he did have a positive impact on the Panthers who hoisted the Stanley Cup. That is some great experience to bring in if the Predators were to make a deal with Florida and get a proven top pairing defenseman for the foreseeable future. Nashville can handle the cap hit of Ekblad no problem and even though he has one year left on his deal, an extension could be in place or one could come eventually.

The Predators appear to be running lower on options to upgrade the right side of their defense and acquiring Ekblad could be a very viable solution to at least help out in 2024-25. We won't have to wait long to see what the Predators do.

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