Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
Ekblad has understandably flown under the radar over the years due to his underwhelming offensive numbers, lack of peripheral stats and being overshadowed by Keith Yandle on the power play. But despite all of this, he's only 24 years old, has top prospect pedigree (was selected 1st overall in 2014) and it is known that Yandle is not a part of Florida's future. Ekblad's offensive numbers have actually improved over the last couple of seasons and defenseman often take longer than forwards to blossom. Could we see a Victor Hedman-like progression where Ekblad breaks out after having spend several years in the league? Hedman didn't break out offensively until his 5th year in the league at age 26.
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
Might be looking at it. Right now the Panthers are running Yandle AND Ekblad on their PP1, bucking the trend towards 4F, but it's working. Huberdeau and Barkov are proving that they can sustain the magic even without Dadonov and Hoffman.
Ekblad's overall game has grown as well. Very much in the underrated realm. He's a legit #1 defenseman.
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
I don't know that he has Hedman's offensive touch but I can certainly see a steady Eddy 50 pt guy for 3 years or so, with other years in the high 40s. He'll eat big minutes.. play both PK and PP... top D for sure, but not a league leader for D in pts or anything like that.
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Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
I would say that some have underrated him and still do.
Yes Yandle had the bigger offensive role, but Ekblad was there learning from him.
Now this could be the first season of Ekblad's career where he is not held back. Previously he also had Matheson to deal with for the #2 PP time somewhat.
If Florida as a team can pull it all together next season in a full 82 games. That could be his biggest offensive season. The man has a good shot and has shown it over the years.
Through the first 5 seasons of his career Ekblad had scored 10 or more goals. Last season he had 5. Already has 3 goals thru 8 games.
I am looking forward to how Ekblad does this season with an eye really on 2021 / 22 NHL season for when we see his full offensive potential on display.
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
Fantasy underrated, but not NHL underrated.
He's an all-situations D who is young, improving, and is now on PP1 with an increasing PP share.
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Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
1 goal 1 assist last night. It's happening....
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
Big game tonight- 2 goals and 2 assists. Now on pace for 55 points over a full season. He only turned 25 years old in February!
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
There’s a reason he was taken 1st in his draft year. He’s a horse.
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
I traded WKarlsson for him this past offseason. Pleased with that trade.
10 Team, 60 Player Roster
G, A, PTS, PPP, PIM, BLKs, Hits, +/-, Shots, W, GAA, SV%, Saves
C- JHughes, Trocheck, RThomas, Zegras, Norris, Bennett, PLD, Stephenson, Danualt
RW- Raymond, Stone, TWilson, Toffoli, KJohnson, Nyqvist, Zary
LW- Keller, Schmaltz, Bunting, Skinner, Barbashev, Duclair
D- QHughes, McAvoy, Doughty, Heiskanen, LHughes, Mintyukov
G- Shesterkin, Demko, Andersen, Kahkonen, Levi, Tarasov, Annunen
Notable Prospects- Nikishin, Kulich, Leonard, Wood, Perreault, Lekkermaki, Ostlund, Othmman, REvans, L-Heureux, Ivanov, Murashov
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
I trade Holtby and Gio for Ekblad in the offseason. Lol Also pleased
8 Team Keeper League
Keep 35 at the end of the year+5 JR slots(can be kept for 3 yrs after draft or less than 10 NHL games)
Points(4) PIM(0.5) +\-(0.5) Wins(5) SO(5) GA(-0.5) Save(0.1)
Roster:
17F
8D
3G
12Farm
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F: Landeskog Mackinnon Kaprizov Panarin Rantanen Bratt Buchnevich Hintz
Kreider Svechnikov Marner T. Wilson Guentzel Rust Fiala Aho Meier
D: Carlson Toews Theodore Krug Klingberg Barrie Ekblad Weegar
G: Bobrovsky Saros Vasilevskiy
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JRs: Bourgault L. Cormier Lambos Olausson Zellweger
IR: Couturier/Ellis
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
I think he was pointless in four or five before last night, and I was on the verge of trading him. Glad I held on. 4 points in one game makes such a big difference in PPG. He's good in points only, in real life he's spectacular.
10 Team Limited Keeper (Keep 8) Points Only
SALARY CAP (Player Salaries) League
20 Player Teams = 12 Fwd 6 D 2 G
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Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
Another goal and assist today!
(Yes I’m going to update this thread until AE gets all the love he deserves)
Re: Is Aaron Ekblad incredibly underrated?
Yeah he's on a heater.Originally Posted by Jyeatbvg
One thing that I've loved to see is that he and Yandle don't seem to be cannibalizing each others' offensive production.
10 Team Limited Keeper (Keep 8) Points Only
SALARY CAP (Player Salaries) League
20 Player Teams = 12 Fwd 6 D 2 G
My team: ???
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