Aaron Ekblad focused on winning as Florida Panthers to take on New York Rangers in NHL Winter Classic

For Aaron Ekblad, the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic isn’t about nostalgia or spectacle; it’s about winning. The Florida Panthers defenseman has spent his entire NHL career building the team into a contender, and when they face the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2, he’s focused on one thing: earning two points for the standings. This game marks the Panthers’ first-ever outdoor contest and the NHL’s debut in the Sunshine State.


Ekblad’s connection to outdoor hockey traces back to his junior years in Canada. He played on Lake Simcoe and backyard rinks with teammates that included Anthony Camara and Mark Scheifele. He learned to love the game more than any of the peripheral trappings. Those carefree moments formed his outlook: hockey is about competition, it's about preparation, and making the most of your chances on the ice.

Florida Panthers rely on Aaron Ekblad to secure NHL Winter Classic win

Now 29, Ekblad has helped the Panthers switch from playoff hopefuls to back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Selected first overall in the 2014 NHL Draft, he won the Calder Trophy in his rookie season and has steadily become the franchise cornerstone. With center Aleksander Barkov sidelined for the Winter Classic due to injury, Ekblad leads a team eager to maintain momentum in the tight Eastern Conference wild-card race.


His career with Florida highlights resilience and leadership. In the first half of his tenure, playoff appearances were rare, and series wins even rarer. Over time, he has set records for games, goals, assists, and points among defensemen, securing the team’s identity on and off the ice. General manager Bill Zito notes Ekblad’s influence, saying he “owns part of the soul” of the Panthers.


The 2026 Winter Classic brings unique challenges. The NHL will use mobile refrigeration units to keep the ice intact in Miami’s warm climate, and the retractable roof at loanDepot Park will open before the game. For Ekblad, the novelty of outdoor hockey in a subtropical setting is secondary to the competitive stakes. “It’s exciting,” he said, “I think certainly as a franchise and being here for so long and the way we’ve turned it around, the opportunity to show out in front of that many fans is going to be awesome.”


As the Panthers step onto the ice in front of more than 35,000 fans, Ekblad’s focus remains clear: leveraging experience, skill, and leadership to secure victory, proving that in hockey, results matter more than ceremony.


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