Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad said Thursday he will be undergoing shoulder surgery and not be ready for the start of training camp, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Ekblad also told reporters he broke a foot early in the team's first-round series against the Boston Bruins, but wasn't aware it was broken until after the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After the Panthers lost in five games against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, Florida coach Paul Maurice said he expected some players to not be ready for the start of training camp because of injuries.
Ekblad, a two-time all-star, had 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 71 regular-season games this year before adding two goals and six assists in 20 playoff games.
The 27-year-old Ekblad has played his entire career with Florida after getting picked first overall by the Panthers in the 2014 NHL Draft.
