Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s performance-enhancing drug policy, sidelining him for the defending Stanley Cup champions’ critical stretch run and the start of the playoffs.
In a statement through the NHLPA, Ekblad expressed shock over failing a random drug test and issued an apology.
“Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel,” Ekblad said. “I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.”
Ekblad, 29, missed eight of nine games in January due to an undisclosed upper-body injury. With 18 games left in the regular season, he will miss the first two games of the playoffs before becoming eligible to return.
The No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft has spent his entire NHL career with Florida, playing a key role in the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship. Before the suspension, he had 33 points in 56 games this season.
The Panthers have not issued an official statement on the suspension, and the NHL has declined further comment.
Before the trade deadline, Florida acquired right-shot defenseman Seth Jones, though it remains unclear when the team became aware of Ekblad’s positive test and subsequent punishment.
Ekblad is the first NHL player suspended for PED use since Nate Schmidt in 2018. Schmidt, then with the Vegas Golden Knights, missed 20 games after testing positive and is now Ekblad’s teammate on the Panthers.
Under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, a first-time PED violation results in a 20-game suspension, a second offense leads to a 60-game ban, and a third results in a lifetime ban. Ekblad must also undergo a mandatory evaluation and potential treatment under the league’s substance abuse and behavioral health program.
Source: Swifteradio.com
