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.

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

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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.

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL and NHL Players Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

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,

The Florida Panthers will be without defenceman Aaron Ekblad for their final 18 regular season games and first two playoff games after he violated the NHL/NHLPA’s performance enhancing drug program.