2018 Offseason Grade The Player: Aaron Ekblad

[CHGoalie27]

GRADING AARON EKBLAD

I'm going with A, even though I think he's capable of padding his stats a little more. Shell shock looks just about worn off...his not missing a game is what's making me seem perhaps a little generous in my vote. Sure it's implied to be more of an A-, but an A is an A.

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[TheImpatientPanther]

Went with a B-, feel he has another level he can hit, love the goal scoring and still feel he has a 20 goal season or two in him. His skating improved with Paul Vincent but he does still need to work on things to be considered a legit top defenseman in the league.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Went with a B-, feel he has another level he can hit, love the goal scoring and still feel he has a 20 goal season or two in him. His skating improved with Paul Vincent but he does still need to work on things to be considered a legit top defenseman in the league.

Same here on everything.

 

[Gentle Man]

C+++++++

Like point from a B C+

 

[HeroGreed]

I expect this year to be his re-breakout year.

 

[Bobblebee]

Improved overall this year, B. Would've gotten an A if there was a huge difference in skating.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Voted B. Great shot, high hockey IQ, can make breakout passes. But, as was addressed, his complete lack of speed will ever prevent him from being elite. Even when Tallon brought Vincent back, while he clearly helped, he's waaaay too slow. Also, last year with Rowe and the concussions was a write-off, but he hasn't shown much progression in 3 full healthy years. He was good as a rookie, and is at about the same level as he played as a rookie.

Solid #2 dman that's plateaued and is overpaid.

 

[Ghoste]

Going with B-

Looked a lot different when Vincent came back. I do wish he made at least a million less per year but I don't think he's plateaued. Just gotta keep improving.

-ghoste

 

[PSLguy]

Went with a B-, feel he has another level he can hit, love the goal scoring and still feel he has a 20 goal season or two in him. His skating improved with Paul Vincent but he does still need to work on things to be considered a legit top defenseman in the league.

For similar reasons as stated above I give him a B as well. Still seems a little early of getting hit or making the big big.

 

[GermanPanther]

Offensive wise a better Season for him, like we looked in the End of the Season only 7-8 Defesnders in the League reached 10 or more Goals in 4 consistent Season. Also it was the first Season where Ekblad played all 82 Games.
ON the Defensive side, his skating skill lags. Only to remind, agile and speedy players passed Ekblad pretty easy, cause he was slow and his first steps was slow. Also with 71 PIM his most in all the Season is bad sign. As Top Defender you should try to stay on the Ice not been placed in the penalty Box. So his offensive Game still more important, in matter of PPG, PPP and GWG.

 

[BeezKnees]

I think it may be a little unfair to say he's plateaued. He's taking on more responsibility and starting to increase his minutes against tougher competition while still putting up the goals. He's not perfect, but we have to remember he's only 22 years old. He still has a lot of untapped potential. If you look around at the star defensemen around the league with Ekblad's similar player profile, they hardly ever reach that "true #1 stud" status before they're 24-25. Think about where the Hedman, Burns, Weber, Suter, Subban, McDonagh, Giordano's of the world were when they were 22. I think he still has a sky-high ceiling, barring injuries.

 

[RainingRats]

Voted B. Great shot, high hockey IQ, can make breakout passes. But, as was addressed, his complete lack of speed will ever prevent him from being elite. Even when Tallon brought Vincent back, while he clearly helped, he's waaaay too slow. Also, last year with Rowe and the concussions was a write-off, but he hasn't shown much progression in 3 full healthy years. He was good as a rookie, and is at about the same level as he played as a rookie.

Solid #2 dman that's plateaued and is overpaid.

Don't know why you think a 21 year old d-man has plateaued. Progress isn't a straight line up and to the right.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Don't know why you think a 21 year old d-man has plateaued. Progress isn't a straight line up and to the right.

Zero change in 4 years is enough for me. Like even this season, a nice "bounceback" year for him to be sure, all he did was bounceback to his form of year 1 and 2. Statistically in '15, '16, and '18 his numbers are almost identical.

What else is for him to develop? It's not like he's a player working on his shot or passing, he has that already. The complete lack of foot speed is his issue and I don't think that will be any better. If he's healthy I don't see any good argument for him to improve on his traditional numbers (10-15 goals, 20-25 assists).

 

[BeezKnees]

Zero change in 4 years is enough for me. Like even this season, a nice "bounceback" year for him to be sure, all he did was bounceback to his form of year 1 and 2. Statistically in '15, '16, and '18 his numbers are almost identical.

What else is for him to develop? It's not like he's a player working on his shot or passing, he has that already. The complete lack of foot speed is his issue and I don't think that will be any better. If he's healthy I don't see any good argument for him to improve on his traditional numbers (10-15 goals, 20-25 assists).

He was pretty sheltered in his first couple seasons. He's on the top pairing now with more responsibility against tougher competition. I think there's room for him to improve his positioning and overall hockey IQ within a system, which is crucial for dmen. Boughner is Ekblad's 3rd head coach in his 4 year career. Having some stability and consistency of what he's being asked to do is going to go a long way for him (as well as everyone else on the D and Forward group)

 

[RainingRats]

Zero change in 4 years is enough for me. Like even this season, a nice "bounceback" year for him to be sure, all he did was bounceback to his form of year 1 and 2. Statistically in '15, '16, and '18 his numbers are almost identical.

What else is for him to develop? It's not like he's a player working on his shot or passing, he has that already. The complete lack of foot speed is his issue and I don't think that will be any better. If he's healthy I don't see any good argument for him to improve on his traditional numbers (10-15 goals, 20-25 assists).

He's improved defensively and still has plenty to work on defensively, consistency in his defensive game is an area that he can improve on and that will make him better.,

His skating is getting better and it can still improve. He's never going to be a Matheson but his skating was so bad that any improvement is going to benefit his play and there's room to get him to be an average to slightly above average skater.

He can definitely score 20 goals if we get our PP going so I don't know why you don't see any good argument for him to improve offensively.

His rookie year was great but he was sheltered defensively and had a partner who carried a lot of the weight. He's taking on tougher competition and last year he was good defensively playing tough minutes, carrying his own weight. Plus he's had to learn multiple systems, just getting used to Boughner's with a year or two experience should help him make better decisions.

If he gets more experience playing tougher minutes, you think he's never going to get better defensively? He hasn't even hit his prime. He's only 22, had to double check his age.

 

[GermanPanther]

He's improved defensively and still has plenty to work on defensively, consistency in his defensive game is an area that he can improve on and that will make him better.,

His skating is getting better and it can still improve. He's never going to be a Matheson but his skating was so bad that any improvement is going to benefit his play and there's room to get him to be an average to slightly above average skater.

He can definitely score 20 goals if we get our PP going so I don't know why you don't see any good argument for him to improve offensively.

His rookie year was great but he was sheltered defensively and had a partner who carried a lot of the weight. He's taking on tougher competition and last year he was good defensively playing tough minutes, carrying his own weight. Plus he's had to learn multiple systems, just getting used to Boughner's with a year or two experience should help him make better decisions.

If he gets more experience playing tougher minutes, you think he's never going to get better defensively? He hasn't even hit his prime. He's only 22, had to double check his age.

Sorry to jump in, but your Argumentation has a fundamental Issue. You speak in a few Points how good he could be. But this Thread is an Offseason review, not a preview.
If you voted B or C or A in the matter how he could improve, then something going really wrong here.

And ucanthanzalthetruth is right, this Season was nothing big then a BounceBack Season and first and second Arguments in my Eyes, complete right. I dont see where Ekblad improved in his skating? Only about the Coach and GM said it and i see in the Game something complete different, then its questable.

So i hope for my own, we stay on the Topic and Discuss how was this Season not how he could be. There are enough Games to bring in arguments, for or against him since he played all 82 Games.

 

[drktmplr12]

his play didn't stand out like his contract. i feel like he was offensively streaky and took too many penalties, but felt confident while he was on the ice even strength.

 

[StrangeVision]

B

Dude needs to learn how to skate better.

 

[ShootIt]

B.

I thought defensively he showed some good strides and his offense came in later on.
I want to say he was heading down the Bjugstad path of no confidence after the 16-17 season and going through those concussions. Luckily, he was healthy last year and seemed to get through any early funks.

Skating is an issue though, and I'm not sure if he'll ever be a defenseman that can be caught off and actually recover against the faster players in the league. Hopefully Paul Vincent can pull one more rabbit out of his hat with Ekblad becoming a more fluid skater.

 

[PanthersHockey1]

B.

Took the next step offensively and started dominating in the 2nd half after skating coach came on.

Still think he has a lot left in the tank to give.

 

[Android 16]

B

A defenders don't get exposed by slick, fast forwards often.

Ekblad does. Until that changes B.

 

[Sticksandsun]

C: for nearly 8 million a year you cannot skate at the same level as your average Friday rec player

 

[Haj]

He's a B or a B+.

He played tough minutes, still scored a with little Power Play time. There is another level he can hit.

Additionally, when his partnered with Yandle he can't play as aggressively. If his skating improves and he gets the right defense partner.....he will hit his potential.

 

[IceManCat]

B or B-

 

[Chaos2k7]

I think we may see Ekblad and MM this season.

Yandle would do better with a D only partner.

Ek and MM are more two way players than straight offensive Ds.