No. 1 pick Ekblad back on the ice

Aug 23, 2014 - 11:36 PM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - This year's No. 1 overall draft pick, defenseman Aaron Ekblad, is back on the ice less than three weeks after sustaining a concussion.

On Saturday, Ekblad, selected by the Florida Panthers back in June, skated at the NHLPA rookie showcase and pronounced himself symptom free. The 18-year-old said that the effects of his concussion subsided less than a week ago.

Ekblad was hurt when absorbing a hit while playing for Team Canada's World Juniors team in a exhibition game against the Czech Republic on Aug. 6.

Due to the injury, both Hockey Canada and the Panthers, who own Ekblad's NHL rights, decided to hold the young defenseman out of the remainder of the summer development camp for next year's World Juniors.

Ekblad, the first defenseman to be taken with the top overall choice of the NHL Draft since St. Louis selected Erik Johnson No. 1 in 2006, recorded 23 goals and 53 points in just 58 regular-season games for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League in 2013-14.

The 6-foot-3, 216-pounder is expected to be fully recovered by the time training camp commences in the middle of September.