Defense wins championships. And the Detroit Red Wings should pursue star defenseman Aaron Ekblad this offseason as long as the Florida Panthers don’t manage to re-sign him.
Wings should pursue Aaron Ekblad, but must have a backup plan
Ekblad recorded three goals and 30 assists for 33 points in 56 games this season with the Panthers and has been a vital part of their defensive corps for the past eight seasons. His last AAV was $7.5 million a year. Given his current rate of production in the playoffs, he’s averaging nearly a point per game with 11 points through 13 games.
Furthermore, his three goals in the postseason also equal his total from the regular season. So you have a player that performs when the lights are at their brightest, and has a Stanley Cup championship on his résumé.
I’d imagine that Ekblad will cost about $8 million per season, which comes out to $56 million for a seven-year deal. Could Detroit theoretically talk Ekblad down to taking $7.75 million? Possibly. But you also have to think realistically, right?
The Dallas Stars were able to convince Matt Duchene to take a team-friendly deal. Why? The Stars are a Stanley Cup contender year in and year out, although they’re likely going to lose in the Western Conference Finals to the same team they did a year ago in the Edmonton Oilers.
The Wings haven’t made the postseason in nearly 10 years, so they don’t have that bargaining chip on the table. But a team that has the depth and the brotherhood that the Panthers currently have, yes they’ll be able to convince Ekblad to take a little less for a guarantee of a shot at a championship.
But if the Wings want a legitimate shot at landing the 29-year-old, they’ll have to show the money. However, Ekblad is a Windsor native, so that could play a factor. But most people in this league want to be amongst the best if they have that choice.
Ekblad and Vladislav Gavrikov package deal?
Gavrikov is an aggressive, dynamic play-killer, but he doesn't produce as much offensively as Ekblad. And unlike the latter, Gavrikov will likely cost less. This would allow Detroit to be more aggressive in the offseason rather than spending all their money on one player.
But what if they could acquire both Ekblad and Gavrikov? In a perfect world, that would be ideal. Both men can thwart powerful offenses and Gavrikov is great at setting up plays. If the Wings can convince Ekblad to take a team-friendly deal, they could nab both this offseason.
But either guy would add veteran experience to the lineup and cement the blue line, but the thought of Ekblad and Gavrikov being together and Ekblad mentoring Simon Edvinsson seems like a match made in heaven.