 In his first NHL season, Ekblad was selected for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in the 2014–15 season.Prior to joining the NHL, Ekblad played major junior hockey for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League.He was granted "Exceptional Player" status unanimously by Hockey Canada, thus allowing him to play major junior a year early.