Florida Panthers defender Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games without wages for violating the NHL policy on performance -enhancing drugs.
The competition announced on Monday the hefty ban of Ekblad and added that it will be a mandatory reference for evaluation and possible treatment under a competition and player union program for substance abuse and behavioral health.
The 29-year-old, who has spent more than ten years in the NHL with Florida, has been accused of violating the policy on PEDs only nine months later from the historic Stanley Cup triumph over the Edmonton Oilers.
He helped the team to conquer his first championship ever in June last year, when a crucial 2-1 victory in game 7 of their series against Edmonton sealed the performance.
The defensive Stanley Cup champions still have 18 games left in the current regular season. It was not immediately clear whether the suspension in the play-offs or the 2025-26 season is wearing.
Ekblad was the number 1 pick in the 2014 design and played his entire career at Florida.
More to follow.
