Aaron Ekblad

Ice hockey defenseman Aaron Ekblad has lapped the competition in multiple areas since being drafted first overall by the Florida Panthers in 2014. Standing at 6-foot-4, the blueliner has led his team to one of their most successful periods in franchise history. Ekblad has appeared in more All-Star Games in his young career than the competition, and in 2021 led all the defensemen in goals. He is the only defenseman in the history of the Panthers to win one of the NHL’s main performance-based awards, the coveted Calder Trophy.

Born in Windsor, Ontario in Canada, the defenseman played major junior hockey for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League after being drafted first overall in the 2011 entry draft. The hockey phenomenon was unanimously granted “Exceptional Player” status, allowing him to play major junior hockey a year early. Selected first overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he wasted no time making an impact following his NHL debut that year and was selected for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. Ekblad then made the world take notice as he earned the prestigious Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie in the league for the 2014-15 season.

Already one of the most accomplished players in the history of the Panthers despite suffering several injuries during his career, there is still much more the Canadian can still accomplish.