Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett had multiple reasons to stay with Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers instead of playing elsewhere in the 2025-26 NHL season. While they had every right to chase a bigger paycheck in the open market, these players ultimately preferred to run things back with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
It was a big decision for all three, but for Ekblad it came down to a simple reason: not only this is the city and team where he’s spent his entire NHL career so far, but the Panthers also offer him the best situation to succeed on the ice.
Having Tkachuck, Marchand, and Bennett as teammates helps, but especially to count on Gustav Forsling as partner in crime in defense. When discussing his contract extension in Florida, Ekblad credited the Swedish defenseman among the factors that convinced him to stay with the Panthers.
“When you’re looking at teams around the league, I don’t think there’s a better partner than Gus Forsling,” Ekblad said of Forsling, via Jameson Olive on NHL.com. “On top of that, a better group of guys, guys that we’ve won with and willing to go to battle with. That’s absolutely a driving factor, the guys on the team and the camaraderie we have. They’re friends and brothers for life.”
Ekblad shows the way for Marchand after Bennett’s extension in Florida
Bennett was the first to sign a new deal this offseason, extending his stay with Tkachuk and the Panthers for eight years on a contract worth $64 million, which counts as $8 million per season. And after days of speculation, both Ekblad and Marchand put pen to paper just before the start of free agency.
Even though they could’ve gotten more money elsewhere, both showed willingness to help with the Panthers’ salary cap situation in order to defend their 2025 title. Shortly after Ekblad signed an eight-year contract that counts $6.1 million on annual average value, Marchand accepted a six-year, $31.5m deal with a cap hit of $5.25 per season.
There’s no place like home for Ekblad
Though many predicted Ekblad to pack his bags in free agency, the defenseman had already warned, days after the 2025 championship, that his intention was to stay in Florida. It makes sense, since the Cats have been the only NHL team he’s played for thus far.
Ekblad witnessed first-hand this organization’s rise from the bottom of the NHL standings to the powerhouse that it is today. When he got drafted first overall in 2014, the franchise had zero Stanley Cups to show for. Flash-forward to 2025, the Panthers already boast two Cups—and they want to add even more to their cabinet.
A dynasty in the making in Sunrise
Even though many decisions in free agency often come down to money, the recent contract extensions in Sunrise remind us that there’s nothing like the price of glory. Panthers general manager Bill Zito obviously deserves credit, but his admission about these extensions is also completely accurate.
SURVEY Will the Panthers win more Stanley Cups after these extensions?
Will the Panthers win more Stanley Cups after these extensions?
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While the front office did a great job by finding a way to keep all three on the team, Marchand, Bennett, and Ekblad’s decision speaks volumes of their desire to leave an indelible mark in NHL history. Two Stanley Cups aren’t enough for the Panthers—now they want to retain the trophy in Sunrise for as many years as possible.