The Panthers have told the NHL that they do not want D Aaron Ekblad to continue to play in the World Cup of Hockey after he "suffered what appeared to be a concussion" during a game on Sunday, according to George Richards of the MIAMI HERALD. Ekblad, who was playing for Team North America, was "run into the glass" by Finland C Leo Komarov. Ekblad this summer signed the "richest deal in franchise history," an eight-year, $60M extension that begins with the '17-18 season (MIAMIHERALD.com, 9/20). In Ft. Lauderdale, Harvey Fialkov notes this would be Ekblad’s "third reported concussion in 25 months." He missed five games last season after an "illegal hit to the head" by Oilers LW Matt Hendricks and also suffered a concussion "during a junior exhibition game in August 2014 when playing for Canada" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 9/20). Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted there has been an “interesting conversation" between the Panthers and the league over Ekblad's status. After seeing the caution the Stars used by pulling C Tyler Seguin from the World Cup after he suffered a heel injury in an exhibition game, Friedman noted the Panthers are "going to have a lot of control here on whether (Ekblad) plays again” ("Russia-North America," Sportsnet, 9/19).
