SUNRISE, Fla. -- Although the Florida Panthers fell short of the playoffs this season, the organization still has the opportunity to secure an important piece of hardware down the home stretch.
With less than a week remaining in the regular season, prodigious rookie Aaron Ekblad has a chance to capture just the second Calder Trophy in Panthers history and the first since forward Jonathan Huberdeau received the award in 2013.
As of right now, however, the 19-year-old isn't burdening himself with the idea of personal accolades.
"Out of sight, out of mind," said Ekblad, who scored the lone goal in Florida's 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night. "If they're going to pick me, they're going to pick me [because of what I did] throughout the season, not because of the last two games. The same goes for all the other guys. It's not going to change in the last two games because that doesn't define a season. It's kind of how I feel about it.
"I'm not trying to win a race or anything, I'm trying to play games and win with the Florida Panthers."
In only a short period of time, Ekblad has established himself as one of the top young defensemen in the league while still managing to exude a refreshing amount of humbleness that isn't typically found in most budding superstars of his age.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Ekblad entered the NHL under a mountain of expectations and has somehow managed to surpass all of them.
Averaging 21:48 of ice time per game, Ekblad leads all rookie defenseman in goals (12), power-play goals (6), power-play points (11), game-winning goals (4) and shots (163) in 79 games. His 37 points -- a franchise rookie record -- are second only to Dallas Stars rookie defenseman John Klingberg, who also happens to be three years Ekblad's senior.
Looking beyond his point total, where Ekblad really excels is in driving puck possession. His 53.8 Corsi percentage at even strength is the second-highest among Panthers defenseman and good enough for fourth among all NHL blueliners ages 18 to 21.
With numbers like that, Ekblad is all but guaranteed to be one of three finalists in attendance when the winner is announced at the 2015 NHL Awards on June 24 in Las Vegas. In fact, in many NHL circles, Florida's wunderkind defenseman is actually considered the favorite.
It isn't exactly a one-horse race, though, as Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau and Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg currently lead all rookies in scoring and will likely also receive plenty of consideration for the award.
Unlike those two, however, Ekblad is in his first non-junior season.
Forsberg, 20, entered his rookie season after having already competed in 65 professional games between the NHL and AHL. In 79 games this season, he has notched 24 goals and 61 points.
Gaudreau, meanwhile, spent three seasons starring at Boston College before joining the Flames for one game at the tail end of last season. This year, the 21-year-old former Hobey Baker winner has registered 22 goals and 61 points in 78 games.
"We play different positions so however the media chooses, I have no idea," Ekblad said of the competition. "I know for a fact the guys going after this trophy are great guys. Best of luck to whomever wins it."
In the end, it may be the positional difference that sets Ekblad apart from the rest. The Windsor, Ontario native is playing a position that is much tougher to assimilate to and at a younger age -- two factors voters will most certainly take into account when filling out their ballots.
If Ekblad does come out on top, he will become the first teenage defenseman to win the Calder Trophy in 18 years and join Bryan Berard, Ray Bourque, Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin as the only teenage defensemen in NHL history to receive the award.
"It'd be awesome," Ekblad said of winning the award. "I would love it. Obviously it's been a goal of mine, but like I said, I'm focused on the Florida Panthers."
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
