Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Aaron Ekblad has come a long way from outdoor shinny games in his junior hockey days.
Growing up, playing outside was part of the fabric of the sport - frozen ponds, neighborhood rinks, cold air and breath hanging in the night. Playing outdoors in Florida, however, was never part of the script. Yet on Jan. 2, Ekblad will skate in exactly that setting when the Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park.
Despite the novelty, Ekblad isn't treating it like a spectacle.
«He looks at the Winter Classic as just another game,» NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika reported. And more importantly, Ekblad wants to win.
That mindset is very on brand for the Panthers' longest-tenured player. While the league and fans celebrate the historic nature of the event - the first outdoor NHL game in the Sunshine State - Ekblad's focus remains locked on results, not atmosphere.
The veteran defenseman has been part of Florida's transformation from afterthought to powerhouse, and big moments no longer feel overwhelming. Outdoor ice, national spotlight, Miami backdrop - those are details, not distractions.
Ekblad's approach mirrors the identity the Panthers have built over the past several seasons. Flash and attention may come with success, but execution still matters most. Treating the Winter Classic like «just another game» is exactly how Florida plans to stay grounded amid the pageantry.
That doesn't mean the moment is lost on him entirely. Ekblad acknowledged how surreal it feels to think about skating outdoors in Florida, a state once mocked as a non-traditional hockey market. The irony isn't lost - it's just not his priority.
With the Panthers defending back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and jockeying for playoff positioning, the Winter Classic is less about history and more about momentum. Florida wants two points, not souvenirs.
Ekblad has played in playoff wars, rivalry clashes and Cup-clinching games. Compared to those moments, an outdoor rink under palm trees doesn't change much.
Win the shifts. Win the battles. Win the game.
Everything else is just scenery.