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

Aaron Ekblad signed an eight-year, $48.8 million contract to remain with the Florida Panthers on Monday. It has an average annual value of $6.1 million.

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.