It's been a long month for Aaron Ekblad. The worst is almost over.
The Florida Panthers defenseman spoke out for the first time Saturday since being suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs last month, something he said was an inadvertent mistake.
He's back on the ice with the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers now for workouts — but can't play until Game 3 of Florida's first-round playoff series.
“There’s so many ways you look at it," Ekblad said, when asked about what the suspension has been like.