Let's talk about Aaron Ekblad

[Chukcha]

It was a great hype around him. Has he been making progress since his rookie year? When he gets his first Norris? Any chance this season?

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[Lays]

It was a great hype around him. Has he been making progress since his rookie year? When he gets his first Norris? Any chance this season?

His best year was arguably his rookie year, he’s not a 1D and I doubt he ever wins a Norris unless he drastically improves. Bad contract too. That about sums it up

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I don't watch a lot of Florida, But I do know he wasn't really the same player after suffering a few concussions.

He might be cleared to play, but might take longer to really recover.

 

[FLpanthers16]

Been alot better this year so going in the right direction.

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

He's been awesome for a couple of years now. And he saw young as f***.

Not every defenseman needs to win a Norris to justify being picked #1 or high in the draft, or having high pay. He's Florida's building block on d, one of their youngest core players, and won't enter his peak for another 5-6 years.

 

[that is unfortunate]

Good 2nd pairing D, his hockey IQ is too poor to be a #1 or even a top pair D at this point

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I wouldn't say it's impossible, but I don't see any reason to think he'll win a Norris in his career. He can't skate and he's pretty dumb on the ice

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

I've watched every Cats game this year and been to about 4, Ekblad will have flashes of brilliance and sometimes jumps in the play or has a defensive breakup that is perfect but if you focus on him for a longer period he falls short and you can see his iq lagging behind Yandle or Matheson.

 

[ESH]

Good 2nd pairing D, his hockey IQ is too poor to be a #1 or even a top pair D at this point

But he is a top pair D

 

[sens13]

he's a solid #2D. got a lot of hype (and a big contract) due to being 1st overall but he hasn't met expectations at all.

 

[Bonzo111]

I heard he was bitten by a rabid fox or something like that and got rabies for a few months recently. Maybe in the summer.

 

[Kale Hulls]

He looked like a different player after he came back from his injury. Not in a good way.

 

[135ace]

Panthers ruined him. Kid can't develop properly due to playing for a mickey mouse club with a losing culture and attitude.

 

[Field of Dreams]

22 years old

 

[Helistin]

I heard he was bitten by a rabid fox or something like that and got rabies for a few months recently. Maybe in the summer.

Sami Salo once missed two games due to a snake bite. Maybe he is going for Salo type career with 40+ injuries.

 

[deckercky]

Sami Salo once missed two games due to a snake bite. Maybe he is going for Salo type career with 40+ injuries.

The snake bite was over the summer. I don't remember him missing time for that injury.

 

[Helistin]

The snake bite was over the summer. I don't remember him missing time for that injury.

Ah , ok. I remember wrong then.

 

[Dread Clawz]

22 years old

Exactly, although he won't ever win the Norris. He came into the league with a boom, but he won't ever meet expectations. However he's still a solid #2 who has room to grow.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

He's been awesome for a couple of years now. And he saw young as ****.

Not every defenseman needs to win a Norris to justify being picked #1 or high in the draft, or having high pay. He's Florida's building block on d, one of their youngest core players, and won't enter his peak for another 5-6 years.

Your timeline is a little off. He should be entering his prime in the next year or two not just entering at the age of 28.

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

Your timeline is a little off. He should be entering his prime in the next year or two not just entering at the age of 28.

Players like Keith, Campbell, Chats, Lidstrom, etc all peaked later in their careers, most defensemen do. Points seem to peak earlier but play is different I find.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Players like Keith, Campbell, Chats, Lidstrom, etc all peaked later in their careers, most defensemen do. Points seem to peak earlier but play is different I find.

Got no idea who “Chats” is (typo?) but what do the other guys have in common? None of them were top-10 picks. Defensemen picked in the top-10 peak earlier.

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

Got no idea who “Chats” is (typo?) but what do the other guys have in common? None of them were top-10 picks. Defensemen picked in the top-10 peak earlier.

Sorry, it was Chara. And I don't put much stock into draft position, but just me, and I don't expect others to agree with that. Point is, those were all elite d that peaked later, do you want a guy like Eric Johnson? He wasn't nearly as good at 23 as he is now.

 

[Howie Hodge]

He's a player who peaked early physically.

The beard was a give away.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Sorry, it was Chara. And I don't put much stock into draft position, but just me, and I don't expect others to agree with that. Point is, those were all elite d that peaked later, do you want a guy like Eric Johnson? He wasn't nearly as good at 23 as he is now.

Erik Johnson is a much better comparison. I think he’s Ekblad’s best case, and Johnson isn’t really all that.

All the elite D I can think of that peaked after 28 were guys who were drafted in the second half of the first round or later, or even undrafted. Think Brent Burns, Dan Boyle, all four of the guys you mentioned. If you can think of a defenseman drafted in the top-5 that became elite after the age of 28, I’d love to hear it. I can’t.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Players like Keith, Campbell, Chats, Lidstrom, etc all peaked later in their careers, most defensemen do. Points seem to peak earlier but play is different I find.

It’s a new era dog. Players are hitting their peaks younger and younger, and yes even defencmen.