Ekblad: 20-game PED suspension is 'toughest' lesson
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is trying to move forward as he nears his return from a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program.
"The toughest (lesson)," Ekblad said Saturday, according to the Miami Herald's Jordan McPherson. "There's so many ways you look at it: respect and integrity and character, family name, my teammates, fans. It's every single which way you look at it. The money that I lose on top of all that - not that I care about in that sense; I'd give it all back to play.
"A lot of regret, but (it) is what it is, and I have to find a way to move forward."
Ekblad was suspended March 10 after failing a random drug test. The veteran blue-liner said he mistakenly took something to help recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel.
He resumed team activities with the Panthers on Thursday but remains suspended through Game 2 of the first round.
"(Games 1 and 2 will) be the toughest two games, of course," Ekblad said. "That's obvious. So, I'm just going to try and keep myself in as best shape as I can so that once Game 3 rolls around, it's easy for me to come back in. And it's not the first time that I've stepped into the playoffs cold, after injuries even, so I'm confident that I'll be fine coming into it. But those two games would be very tough to watch, for sure."
Ekblad missed the last 20 games of the 2021-22 regular season with a lower-body injury and returned for Game 1 in the first round versus the Washington Capitals.
The rest that's coincided with his suspension is a silver lining for Ekblad.
"Obviously, all of this happening, it's a ton of rest," Ekblad said. "My body hasn't felt this good since coming into Game 1 of the season. It's almost like a mini training camp. It's the best I've felt in a while, for sure."
The Panthers have gone 6-8-1 in Ekblad's absence.