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4 hours ago
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Of course, the Florida Panthers want Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad back.
Ekblad has been a key defenseman since he was the No. 1 overall pick, and he's hoisted back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Marchand came over at the trade deadline from Boston and was one of Florida's most crucial pieces to getting that second Cup.
Now, they're both free agents. The Panthers already got Sam Bennett re-signed, so now it's on to these other two.
There's a problem, though. GM Bill Zito doesn't sound super confidenct.
"We have a Plan B and a Plan C," Zito told reporters, "but my preference, and maybe I'm hoping, is that there's enough for guys to want to stay, to be part of this, be treated fairly and be happy, and that's the most important thing."
MORE: The reason Mitch Marner doesn't want to return to the Maple Leafs
If this was going to be easy, the Panthers wouldn't have a Plan B and a Plan C. This suggests there's a very real scenario where Florida ends up with neither of these guys.
The end portion of that answer is an attempt to feel better about things. The reality is that Marchand and/or Ekblad could leave or stay for any number of reasons including or contrary to these.
Florida will still be good regardless of what happens. But the Panthers would definitely like to keep at least one of these two stars around.
Marchand is older but wouldn't require as long a contract length, so there's a trade-off there.
With free agency right on tap this week, it'll all resolve itself soon enough.
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