The Detroit Red Wings are a long way from their franchise peak.
But they may have a path in free agency to start working their way back to the top.
The pitch, by Matt Larkin of The Daily Faceoff, is to sign defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
The former No.1 overall pick has won the past two Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers.
"It’s no secret the Wings desperately need help on their blueline to support Simon Edvinsson and Moritz Seider," Larkin writes. "That’s why I suggested them as key suitors to watch in potential trades for Rasmus Andersson and Noah Dobson. While they absolutely have the necessary pick-and-prospect capital to make pitches for either blueliner…GM Steve Yzerman could also spend “only” money to land Ekblad. He hasn’t lived up to the promise that made him the 2014 NHL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, but he’s a top-pair workhorse and two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Panthers. He’d be a significant upgrade over the likes of Justin Holl and Jeff Petry."
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AFP Analytics projects a $7.8 million per season deal for seven years, which would be about $55 million over the length of the contract.
At 29 years old, Ekblad is already first in Panthers franchise history for a defenseman in games (732), goals (118), assists (262) and points (380).
He seems the least likely of the Panthers' main free agents to stick around. Reports about Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand are more positive.
So if Ekblad is leaving, there'll be a whole host of suitors.
Detroit could certainly use a guy like Ekblad.
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