Panthers looking to add defenseman before Trade Deadline, GM says

Today, Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon discusses Florida's need for help on defense and talks about the key roles being played by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and coach Joel Quenneville in the Panthers' quest to lock up a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. TORONTO -- The Florida Panthers are in the market to add an experienced defenseman to pair with Aaron Ekblad before the NHL Trade Deadline, general manager Dale Tallon said."I'd like to acquire a veteran D if I could to play with Ekblad and settle things down a bit back there," Tallon said. "We need to be more consistent on the blue line."Ekblad, in his sixth NHL season, has 29 points (five goals, 24 assists) in 49 games this season. The Panthers are allowing 3.27 goals per game, which is 25th in the NHL. We need to have less ups and downs back there."Tallon said that the Panthers (29-17-5), who enter their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-F, NHL.TV) third in the Atlantic Division, are also in the market for forward help, although that is not as much a priority."A steadying influence probably up front as well," he said. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and NHL.TV, Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, NHL Mascots, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, NHL Power Players name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League.