Florida Panthers Defenceman Battled A Long List Of Injuries During Playoff Run
The two month battle to capture the Stanley Cup was completed last night with the Vegas Golden Knights capturing the franchise's first ever championship in just their six season in the NHL, defeating the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5.
During the teams' media availability, head coach Paul Maurice revealed that defenceman Aaron Ekblad played with a broken foot and dealt with multiple other injuries throughout his team's run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
According to Maurice, Ekblad broke his foot during the Panthers' quarterfinal series victory over the Boston Bruins way back in April. The 27 year old only missed one game as the Panthers embarked on their magical playoff run to within three wins of their first championship.
Maurice also revealed that Ekblad suffered two separate shoulder dislocations and a torn oblique muscle as the Panthers defeated the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes en route to the Final.
Despite the injuries Ekblad was a steady performer, scoring 2 goals and 8 points in 20 games while averaging over 24 minutes a night in ice time.
Drafted 1st overall in the 2014 draft, Ekblad is another example of just how hard winning the Stanley Cup is.
| POLL | ||
Which team will have a better season next year? | ||
| Vegas Golden Knights | 85 | 66.9 % |
| Florida Panthers | 42 | 33.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
