Joel Quenneville is looking to make a statement entrance in his return to the NHL after almost four years. Ahead of his first season with the Anaheim Ducks, Coach Q reportedly set his sights on one of the biggest names in free agency. As a result, Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers could wave goodbye to one key teammate after hoisting back-to-back Stanley Cups.
The Panthers have a lot of paperwork they need to get started on immediately. However, they’re still in full celebration mode after hoisting the second Stanley Cup in franchise history. With a few days to spare before NHL free agency opens, Florida is apparently putting off those tasks until after the championship parade.
Still, the Panthers will have to address those matters sooner or later. Among the many players with expiring contracts, stars like Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad sit at the top of the list. However, those players have drawn interest from across the NHL, so the Cats can’t afford to rest on their laurels.
Chasing experience
If the saying holds true—that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure—then Florida can only imagine what its treasures might be worth to other franchises. The Ducks are one team in desperate need for help in almost every side of the puck. On that note, Quenneville has reportedly fixed his eyes on two-time Stanley Cup champion Ekblad, who he coached back in Florida.
Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers in action against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena on February 01, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
As reported by Rod Pedersen, it seems Quenneville is hoping to sign Ekblad to the Ducks. However, Coach Q and Anaheim must wait for the Panthers to make a decision on their star blueliner first. Afterwards, if Ekblad does become an UFA, the Ducks would have to outbid several teams to secure the 29-year-old defenseman.
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NHL News: Stanley Cup hero Sam Bennett reportedly rules out one destination amid uncertain future with Brad Marchand, Panthers
Hoping to stay
While it would take a huge effort and a solid display of flexibility from Bill Zito and the front office, the Cats believe they can keep the team together. Ekblad has the utmost confidence in it, too, as he made it clear with a powerful admission shortly after the final horn blasted off in Game 6.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to be a part of this franchise for so long. I’m excited for the future and I really hope it’s with this team,” Ekblad said after the Stanley Cup Final, in dialogue with Sportsnet.
Head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 with Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Living in the moment
Sunrise is the place to be in the NHL at the moment. South Florida has become the Mecca of hockey and nobody wants to skip town after experiencing back-to-back championships. It’s even more special for players like Ekblad, who have been with the organization through the whole journey.
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Whether Quenneville and the Ducks come knocking or not, Ekblad’s heart seems to be firmly with the Panthers for now. Who knows what the offseason has in store for him? At the moment, the only thing he cares about is celebrating the Stanley Cup with his teammates.
