Panthers acquire Robert Hagg after losing Aaron Ekblad for regular season

Anthony Scultore |

Mar 20, 2022

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The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Robert Hagg to the Florida Panthers for a 2022 sixth-round draft pick.

Hagg, 27, has one goal and seven assists in 48 games this season, his first with the Sabres.

“Robert is a tireless competitor and a physical defenseman who will add depth to our blueline,” said GM Bill Zito in a statement.

Panthers add Robert Hagg after losing Aaron Ekblad

Hagg will be reunited with former Flyers teammate Claude Giroux, acquired by the Panthers in a trade on Saturday.

He was a second-round pick by Philadelphia in 2013, he posted 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 236 games with the Flyers from 2017-21.

This trade comes off the heels of the team finding out that Aaron Ekblad will miss the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury.

Ekblad was injured on Friday just 1:05 into the game in a win over the Ducks. He collided with his own teammate in the offensive zone and crawled off the ice in obvious pain.

“He’s in good spirits,” coach Andrew Brunette said Sunday. “Nothing that [is] overly concerning here long term. Just make sure we get him healthy here down the stretch.”

I'm told Aaron Ekblad will be placed on LTIR and will not return during the regular season, but sometime during the first round. So cap space is no issue for #FlaPanthers.

Expect them to be active – and maybe use that space (after Hagg deal) to attempt to recoup some picks.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 20, 2022

–Field Level Media contributed to this report