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4. Aaron Ekblad

4. Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad did as much as you could ask for in his rookie year, as the number one pick from the Barrie Colts scored 39 Points and won the Calder Trophy.  Ekblad never slowed down, showing exemplary two-way hockey and a healthy Plus/Minus on a team that for the most part has not been usually on the winning side of the ledger.  

Entering his ninth season of professional hockey, Ekblad is slightly over a .5 Point per Game player, an excellent number for a blueliner in the modern era.  Ekblad has now gone to two All-Star Games and is certainly capable of a third, as he showed by his 2021-22 career-high of 57 Points with a sixth-place Norris vote.  Since then, Ekblad proved valuable on Florida's back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning teams, 

Ekblad has more accolades in him, and it does not hurt that the Panthers are an elite and loaded squad.  He has a phenomenal chance to crack the top three on this list.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defence
  • Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round, 1st Overall 6/27/14.
  • Games Played: 732
  • Notable Statistics: 118 Goals
    262 Assists
    380 Points
    505 PIM
    .51 PPG
    +98 Plus/Minus
    795 Blocked Shots
    840 Hits
    319 Takeaways
    679 Giveaways
    64.6 Point Shares

    83 Playoff Games
    8 Goals
    25 Assists
    33 Points
    87 PIM
    .32 PPG
    +21 Plus/Minus
    124 Blocked Shots
    210 Hits
    31 Takeaways
    83 Giveaways
  • Major Accolades and Awards: Stanley Cup Champion (2024 & 2025)
    Calder Trophy (2015)
    All-Star (2015 & 2016)
    First Team All-Rookie (2015)
  • Notable Top Ten Finishes: Top Ten Norris Trophy Finishes:
    6th in 2022

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