When it comes to top prospects, the NHL hype machine is usually on full blast when it comes to its future stars. But so far this season, Aaron Ekblad has been flying under the radar. It’s almost an inconceivable thought that a first-overall pick would be forgotten so quickly, but sometimes the hockey world needs a reminder about the hidden gems.
Playing for the Florida Panthers will not get a player much attention. They are in the midst of a rebuild and the lack of wins has resulted in record lows in attendance. They are overshadowed by state rival Tampa Bay who are a far better team and have an elite franchise player in Steven Stamkos. Florida on the other hand doesn’t have that kind of player. Jonathan Huberdeau is a former Calder Trophy winner but a bad sophomore slump had him fall off the radar. Aleksander Barkov is talented but has a lot to prove considering he went before Jonathan Drouin and Seth Jones in a surprise selection. Erik Gudbranson is proving to be a leader for the Panthers, but his play hasn’t warranted that of a former third-overall pick.
In many ways, the 2014 NHL Draft is the afterthought sandwiched between the 2013 and 2015 years. The 2013 draft was headlined by the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Seth Jones and it had depth and skill even in the late rounds. This year is more or less the Connor McDavid draft with Jack Eichel not far behind. It is being touted as the best year since the famed 2003 draft that produced an unbelievable amount of stars. It’s considered to be so deep that some think Ekblad wouldn’t have been drafted in the top three if he was draft eligible a year later. So far this season, McDavid has stolen headlines with exceptional play and is widely considered to be “The Next One”. It’s pretty hard for anyone to compete with that, even the most recent first pick who had exceptional status as well
Ekblad is not the flashiest guy on the ice. He doesn’t skate or put up points like Erik Karlsson nor is he a dominant physical force like Shea Weber. Ekblad is more of a player that keeps mistakes to a minimum and can log big minutes. To start the year, Ekblad has three points in his first nine NHL games and has been playing over 20 minutes a night alongside Brian Campbell. He and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl were the only players to make the jump to the NHL at the age of 18 this year, an impressive feat. At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Ekblad can certainly take care of himself and bring some toughness to his game when necessary. He has been lauded for his maturity and looked like a man amongst boys on draft day alongside the fresh-faced teenagers. He even looked older than some of the 20-year-olds in the OHL.
Ekblad may not play in the most prominent of hockey markets or be the next Bobby Orr, but it doesn’t mean he should be forgotten. He has top pairing potential and has proven in the past that he is a leader. There is a reason he was given exceptional status in the OHL and has proven time and again he can step up his game when it counts most, such as during the 2013 OHL playoffs where he played huge minutes for Barrie and racked up a ton of points as a 17-year-old. Top defensemen are incredibly hard to find and Ekblad has all the tools to join the NHL’s elite.
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