A New Chapter for Eklund: Excitement and Ambition Abound in Ottawa

Forward William Eklund is no longer part of the San Jose Sharks' rebuild, but he's excited for the chance to play for the Ottawa Senators next season. The 23-year-old had been with the Sharks since being selected with the 7th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and had 53 points in 78 games this season. The Senators acquired Eklund in a trade with the Sharks on Tuesday, and he's eager to seize the opportunity to play with top players like Tim Stutzle and contribute to the team's success.

Eklund acknowledged that trades are a part of the NHL, and he expresses no hard feelings towards the Sharks or his former teammates. 'It's a business, so we know how it works,' he said. 'I have no hard feelings for San Jose. I wish all the guys the best of luck there.' Eklund is now focused on the future and his new role with the Senators.

The trade that brought Eklund to Ottawa included forward Kasper Halttunen and the rights to prospect Brandon Svoboda in exchange for the 9th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Senators had acquired that pick from the Florida Panthers as part of a trade that sent captain Brady Tkachuk to Tampa. Eklund hopes to prove himself as an elite player and help the Senators win more games in the playoffs.

Eklund has been working hard to prepare for the next season, and he's currently training in preparation for the chapter. He sustained a wrist injury during the 2025 World Championship but has been able to overcome it and come back healthy. Ottawa is a team that Eklund has faced several times in his career, and he respects the Senators' well-rounded team and deep roster.

Eklund is particularly excited about the prospect of playing alongside Tim Stutzle, who led the Senators with 83 points in 80 games this season. 'Yeah, obviously, a great player,' Eklund said of Stutzle. 'He's been a great player in this league for a while now. Whoever I play with, it's going to be a fun journey.' Eklund is now looking forward to this new beginning.

The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, where Ottawa acquired the 9th overall pick, is scheduled to take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday, 7 pm ET. Fans can watch the draft on ESPN, SN, or TVAS. The Senators are a young, talented team, and Eklund is eager to contribute to their success.

Ottawa has a promising young core that includes forward Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa, as well as defenseman Sam Dickinson. The Sharks, whose rebuild Eklund was a part of, finished just four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference but missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

The Senators have qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons but were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round. Eklund could find himself playing on a line with right wing Fabian Zetterlund, who played with him in San Jose from 2022-2025, and center Tim Stutzle. The prospect of this new line combination is an exciting one for the young forward.