The NHL announced Monday that Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA's Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Per the NHL's statement, the suspension also includes "mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment.

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended 20 games without pay Monday for violating the NHL and NHL Players' Association's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, taking him off the ice for the defending Stanley Cup champions' stretch run and start of the playoffs.

The Florida Panthers’ trade for five-time All-Star defenseman Seth Jones earlier this month is about to pay even more dividends than the team had initially hoped.

The NHL announced on Monday that Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekbald has been suspended for 20 games for “violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substance Program.” Ekblad was not on the ice for Florida’s practice on Monday morning at the Baptist Health IcePlex, and now we know why.

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Aaron Ekblad's stunning suspension for taking a performance enhancing substance will greatly impact the Panthers' playoff hopes and his new contract.

Ekblad is the first NHL player in more than six years to be suspended for use of a performance-enhancing drug.

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL's penformance enhancing drugs policy, the league announced Monday. In a statement released through the NHLPA,