Aaron Ekblad Facing Another Suspension, For Headshot on Brandon Hagel

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 ,

 The Battle of Florida continues to get nastier, and now Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is facing another suspension after his headshot on the Tampa Bay Lightning's Brandon Hagel in Game 4 of their series. 

The NHL's Department of Player Safety will hold a phone hearing with Ekblad on Tuesday.  

The incident came in the wake of Hagel's earlier suspension in the series for a vicious late hit on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. Hagel had just returned to the lineup for Game 4. 

Ekblad delivered a forearm shiver to Hagel's head in the second period, that Sportsnet's Justin Bourne called "a complete lapse in judgement by Ekblad... He's gonna get games for that. I think at least two (game suspension). I think it's a bad hit." 

Hagel went into concussion protocol, and did not return to the game. 

No penalty for Ekblad after hit on Hagel, but suspension looms

Ekblad was not penalized on the play, but the Bolts immediately scored two goals in ten seconds after the incident. 

However, adding insult to injury, Ekblad scored the game-tying goal as the Panthers stormed back with three late ones in the third period to win 4-2, and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the bitter, hard-fought series. 

Will Panthers have to play Game 5 without Aaron Ekblad?

But the Cats will likely have to play Game 5, and perhaps more, without their big D-man. Ekblad had just returned to the Panthers' lineup for Game 3 of the series, after serving a 20-game suspension for PED use. 

Go To: NFL Rumors | NBA Rumors | MLB Rumors