The Panthers re-signed veteran defenseman Aaron Ekblad to a long-term extension, keeping Ekblad with the team that drafted him.

Panthers general manager Bill Zito, who previously said the Jones trade wouldn't stop the club from keeping "either one or both" defensemen, will now look to head into the 2025-26 season with Ekblad and Jones anchoring the team's top two pairings.

That would keep Ekblad under contact through the 2032-33 season. Ekblad has made it known that he wanted to be a Panther lifer. He has already been with them for 11 seasons ever s