William Eklund: The Original Pillar of San Jose's Future
Leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft it was announced that the San Jose Sharks had traded William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the No. 9 pick.
Eklund, a former seventh overall draft selection had essentially marked the beginning of the Sharks rebuild back in 2021 while being poised as the star prospect the organization had needed.
However, as time went on those expectations were sidelined from the Swede as different organizational goals and strategy affected Eklund's tenure for the future.
2021 NHL Draft
Let's revisit the end of the 2021 season. The Sharks had just finished the season as the sixth worst team in the league with a glaring issue of an aging core clogging up the roster.
The draft lottery landed the Sharks the 7th overall pick, the highest since 2015 where Timo Meier was selected 9th overall.
The 2021 NHL Draft was held via video conferencing because of the lingering effects of the pandemic.
As the clock began, the normal projected players were being selected one-by-one. As the picks kept going, hockey fans noticed that the number one ranked European prospect was not being selected. William Eklund was ranked as a top three prospect in select rankings. Eklund was falling in the draft.
It was then announced that the Sharks were on the clock. Social media buzz from Sharks fans were eagerly waiting to see which prospect would be selected to help the team get back to their playoff ways. Finally, the broadcast cut to former Director of Scouting Doug Wilson Jr. who announced that the Sharks were selecting William Eklund.
Eklund Purposefully Delayed Pro Minutes
Then came training camp, a time where newly drafted prospects show off their talent to their newly acquainted coaching staff of their respected clubs. A dream to have the chance to crack the opening night roster for these young men.
After the newly acquired Swede impressed during training camp, Eklund made the roster and made his debut on October 16 against the Winnipeg Jets, where while playing he received his first NHL point.
Fans were ecstatic. A player that proved he can compete and realistically make the team's bottom-medium line forward group and develop over the season to a potential higher role. However, after nine games in the big leagues, former Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson announced that the organization opted to send him back to Sweden.
The strategy that was seen best for the organization as the team was in the midst of a "retooling" era. This move allowed the Sharks to delay the start of his newly acquired entry-level contract and push it to the next season.
This tactic rolled over to the following season as Eklund suited up mostly in the Sharks minor league affiliate the San Jose Barracuda. In the month of March in 2023, the Sharks called up Eklund to play eight games in the NHL before ultimately sending him back down to help out the Barracuda in the playoffs. Almost immediately after being sent down his season ended after he required surgery on a torn labrum after a brutal hit into the boards.
It wasn't until Eklund's third season after being drafted when he finally suited up for the San Jose Sharks full-time, putting up 45 points in 80 games in the 2024 season.
However, the expectations surrounding Eklund on potentially becoming the franchise cornerstone diminished as during the offseason the Sharks then drafted Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. A clear franchise player that immediately blew up the hockey world during his rookie season.
Some fans expected Eklund to be Celebrini's go-to linemate however Eklund spent most of his time in the second line this most recent season.
Enticing Line Chemistry
William Eklund's linemates is worth mentioning as while playing for the Barracuda Eklund put up 41 points in 54 games, huge part of that was playing alongside with Thomas Bordeleau, the 2020 second round draftee from the San Jose Sharks.
Somehow someway the two of them help put up an impressive showing together. The organization attempted to carry that over in the NHL however it seemed that William Eklund was the more NHL ready player. He did however find a new teammate in the NHL that complimented one another such as Bordeleau did. His name was Fabian Zetterlund.
Both William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund put up 89 combined points for the season. In addition, a very public, closely bonded friendship was formed between the two.
As the 2025 season rolled around William Eklund was in his final contract year before he was eligible for an extension. Same as Zetterlund as his two-year contract was coming to an end.
During the final minutes of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the San Jose Sharks were able to squeeze in one final trade which sent Fabian Zetterlund alongside prospect Tristen Robins and a fourth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for rookie Zack Ostapchuk and former Sharks forward Noah Gregor alongside a second-round pick.
"It was one of the toughest days of my life," Eklund said. Marking the end of the Zetterlund and Eklund era in teal.
One might suspect if current General Manager Mike Grier chose Ottawa as the best suitable team for Eklund, to reunite the two Swedes once again.
The End in San Jose
It was announced on July 23, 2026, that William Eklund alongside prospects Kasper Haltunnen and Brandon Svboda were traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the 2026 No. 9 pick in the first round. That pick ended up being used by the Sharks to select Keaton Verhoeff, a much needed highly ranked defensive prospect to help fill the void in the blue line.
Eklund, who just signed a three-year extension while being on the Sharks will have the extension kick off while being an Ottawa Senator.
With the factors of injuries, removal of Zetterlund, and multiple younger players outperforming Eklund, the end of his tenure seemed inevitable.
Why Trade Eklund?
As William Eklund was racking up points and gaining the love and support from the Sharks fanbase, a brewing issue was rising. See Eklund is a good player objectively however when the Sharks have an excess of forwards with no superstar defenseman to shut down their own end of the ice, the forwards then become trade bait to acquire said defenseman.
The Sharks got lucky and jumped up in the draft lottery to the second overall pick again in back-to-back years. Ivar Stenberg was selected by the San Jose Sharks second overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Immediately being compared and perceived as Eklund's replacement for the team. Coincidentally both being Swedish players as well.
Of course, as all things in business, money could have been a factor in Eklund's departure as well. Both Celebrini and Will Smith are on the forefront of players needing to be paid which would assumably eat up over a quarter of the team's salary. This trade potentially saved the Sharks an extra couple of years before all the young players receive their hefty extensions.
Eklund's Legacy in San Jose
Sharks fans will know William Eklund as the first big draft pick during the playoff drought. He essentially was the beginning piece of the Sharks rebuild. The start of "The Future is Teal" tagline, as well as being a fan favorite.
Eklund put up highlight reel goals on the forecheck and when it comes to his teammates, he will not hesitate to go after the opposing player and stick up for his teammates.
Ottawa received a core piece of the Sharks forward group and is to be expected to be put on the first line for the Senators. If you are a fan of the Senators that is upset about the Brady Tkachuk trade this acquisition definitely helps ease the wound.
If you are a Sharks fan, the Eklund trade hurts. There is no denying that. However, from a pure organizational standpoint it had to be done. The newly acquired drafted prospects and the growth of other forwards in the system was slowly pushing him out of the picture.
The hockey world will continue to watch William Eklund, and the reunion with Fabian Zetterlund will surely make for great hockey for years to come.
Thank you, William Eklund, for your time in teal. The Bay Area will miss you.
