What happened: Ottawa traded the ninth overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft to San Jose for 23-year-old left winger William Eklund and prospects, the return on the pick acquired in the Brady Tkachuk blockbuster. Eklund, the seventh overall pick in 2021, has three years left on a deal carrying a $5.6 million average annual value. The trade converts a draft-night asset into an established NHL contributor who slots onto one of Ottawa's top two lines.
Why it matters: After moving one of the league's premier volume shooters in Tkachuk, Ottawa needed someone to help fill the net, and Eklund profiles more as a playmaker than a finisher. His age fits the rest of the young core, and his decent defensive metrics on a porous San Jose roster suggest Ottawa's structure could sharpen his two-way game. The gamble is whether there is untapped scoring upside the Sharks never unlocked.
By the numbers: Eklund has 50 goals and 163 points in 252 career games across five seasons. His best year came in 2024-25 with 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games; this past season he posted 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games, having never reached the 20-goal or 60-point marks. At five-on-five he ranked tied for 178th of 546 qualifying skaters at 1.67 points per 60, while Tkachuk sat 24th at 2.48. His contract runs through 2028-29 at a $5.6 million AAV, with one year of restricted free agency to follow.
What to watch: Watch how Ottawa deploys Eklund in its top six and whether the rebuilding club finds the finishing it surrendered. San Jose, holding the second overall pick, turns next to the draft and its blue-line needs.