It means the world to me. Nineteen years is a long time, especially with one franchise, and I have so much pride and still a lot of expectations for my career in these eight years.’

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad signs an eight-year deal with a $6.1 million AAV with the Florida Panthers. Harman Dayal: Ekblad’s passionate rant about what it meant to him to be a Florida Panther during the Stanley Cup Final foreshadowed his willingness to take a sweetheart discount.

Aaron Ekblad is back for a 12th season with the Florida Panthers. Exblad and the Panthers agreed to a contract on Monday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Ekblad had been scheduled to hit free agency after playing out the final season of his previous eight-year,