(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The NHL suspended Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad for 20 games without pay on Monday for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing substances program.

'Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment,' the league said in a statement. 'The National Hockey League will have no further comment on this matter.'

Ekblad, 29, released a statement through the players' union.

'The news that I had failed a random drug test was a shock,' Ekblad wrote. 'Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel.

'I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.'

There are 18 regular-season games remaining for the Panthers, which means Ekblad's suspension will cause him to miss Florida's first two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Panthers (40-21-3, 83 points) lead the Atlantic Division and are in prime position for a postseason berth.

Florida made Ekblad the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, and he has spent his entire 11-year career with the franchise. Injuries limited him to 51 regular-season games in 2023-24, but he suited up for all 24 playoff games as the Panthers won the first Stanley Cup in team history.

This season, Ekblad has played in 56 games and tallied 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) while leading the Panthers' skaters in average time on ice (23:30). He has played in 732 career games and amassed 118 goals and 262 assists, adding four goals and 16 assists in 64 playoff appearances.

--Field Level Media