Where do you get the lack of hockey sense? From everything I've been reading and listening to what folks are talking about this seems the exact opposite.
Outlet passing and positioning are top notch. Zone entries and keeping the puck in the zone have noted many times to be top tier. Skating is a fixable issue and was one of the noted flaws in Monahans game and look how that turned out.
From Future considerations and Eliteprospects.com:
An exceptional talent, Ekblad has an impressive blend of size and strength for his age. He's mature, confident and poised in all three zones, skates well and is strong in transition.
Just the second player to be granted exceptional status in the OHL. Ekblad is a true "two-way" defenseman. He makes great passes, uses his size to his advantage, plays the body, quarterbacks the power play, can take over the game in any of the three zones and has great hockey sense.
Craig Button:
Aaron is the proverbial 'workhorse' defenceman. Capable of playing significant minutes, he has a seemingly ability to get better the more he plays and he seems to thrive on these types of demands. Smart and capable of playing in all situations, he is also capable of dominating opponents. Defensively, offensively, skill game or physical game, Aaron can excel in all types of games. Top 2 type defenceman."
Profile from: TSNs Director of Scouting Craig Button
From ze Flames:
http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=694729
Truth is he is just as viable of an option to draft than any of the forwards. And something the Flames need just as badly.