I feel like it'd need another very alluring asset alongside Boeser to leverage him, with Vancouver ascending and the 2021 draft looking good not great

Arguably, a guy like Travis Hamonic would be a far cheaper (no team assets beside cap room and dollars) and a better fit to play with Hughes than Ekblad. I mean Ekblad is the upgrade over Hamonic, but why give up the extra room and the first and prospect when you can sign a guy in free agency and use those assets to improve in other areas? Besides, OEL and Pietrangelo rumors involving Canucks still persist any way so I would expect those are targets 1A and 1B followed by a second-tier UFA defender like Hamonic. I also have a hard time believing Florida is prepared to part with Ekblad at the moment.

Bill Zito wants to improve the Panthers fat chance of him dealing Aaron Ekblas, Besides that doesn't get Ekblad anyways not enough quality heading to Florida. And Toffoli is heading to free agency Benning couldn't move the necessary players to afford to resign him.

Jordie Benn + 3rd to take his contract