William Eklund, 23, leaves the San Jose Sharks.
The NHL forward is traded to the Ottawa Senators.
There he is reunited with close friend Fabian Zetterlund, 26.
In addition to Eklund, Ottawa also receives the Finn Kasper Halttunen and the rights to Brandon Svoboda. San Jose gets the ninth pick in this week’s NHL draft in exchange.
It’s a choice that Ottawa made when replaced team captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida last Sunday night.
– William is a dynamic and skilled forward with a lot of competitive instinct. We are excited to welcome him to the Senators organization and he will fit in well with our playing group,” Ottawa general manager Steve Staios told the club’s website.
Eklund was drafted by San Jose seventh overall in 2021. Since then, he has become a key piece in the team’s rebuilding phase.
Last season he scored 53 points (15 goals and 38 assists) in 78 games.
Can draft Stenberg
With the ninth pick, San Jose has both the second and ninth picks in the NHL draft, which is the night of Saturday, Swedish time.
With the second pick, San Jose is rumored to select Frölunda’s Ivar Stenberg. San Jose has many talented forwards in its lineup and with Eklund leaving, the rumors of Stenberg going to Western California will increase.
Reunite with close friend
Fabian Zetterlund, who was a teammate of Eklund in San Jose, plays in Ottawa.
The two became close friends in San Jose and are now reunited in the Canadian capital.
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