NHL insider reveals just how close the Detroit Red Wings were to acquiring Aaron Ekblad in free agency
Photo credit: NHL.com
Even with a bigger payday, it appears that GM Steve Yzerman couldn't lure defenseman Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers away from Sunrise, FLA.
GM Steve Yzerman did in earnest attempt to upgrade the blue line in Detroit this postseason.
A recent report revealed that Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers decided to stay in Sunrise, FLA.
GM Bill Zito would reward the two-time Stanley Cup champion with a $6.1 million AAV raise.
A raise that was reported to be smaller than the one waiting for him in Detroit, according to NHL Insider James Mirtle.
An astonishing bit of news for Red Wings fans who have thought that Yzerman didn't do anything in an attempt to upgrade the lineup.
Reliable Playoff Performer and Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion
It was reported back in June by Frank Seravalli and DailyFaceoff that the Red Wings were attempting to lure Ekblad here with more money.
As it seems, that figure remains to be seen, considering Ekblad didn't take the offer.
Ekblad is one of the top two-way defensemen in the NHL, who scored 33 points in 56 games with the Panthers.
The former 1st overall pick in 2014 has won two Stanley Cups with the Panthers and would suffer a 20-game suspension as a result of using drugs that weren't approved by the NHL.
He'd later return to the Panthers' lineup to help lead them to their 2nd Stanley Cup.
In the postseason, he scored 12 points in 18 games as a reliable playoff performer. It's no wonder the Red Wings were offering him a nice, fat raise.
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AOUT 25 | 748 ANSWERS NHL insider reveals just how close the Detroit Red Wings were to acquiring Aaron Ekblad in free agency Do you think defenseman Aaron Ekblad will win a third Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers? | ||
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