The Ottawa Senators acquired left winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, sending the ninth overall pick in this week's NHL Draft to San Jose. The deal also includes prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda heading to Ottawa.
Eklund, 21, was the Sharks' first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in 2021. He has recorded 23 goals and 46 assists in 148 career NHL games. Halttunen, a 19-year-old Finnish winger, was a 2023 second-round pick, while Svoboda, 20, was a 2023 seventh-round pick.
The trade gives the Senators a young, NHL-ready forward as they look to accelerate their rebuild. For San Jose, the No. 9 pick provides another top asset in what is considered a deep draft class, with the Sharks now holding two selections in the first round.
Ottawa's next move remains uncertain after recently trading former captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. According to Yahoo Sports, the Senators' front office, led by general manager Steve Staios, could revisit a potential trade involving a $92 million deal that was previously considered, as they felt it would undermine Tkachuk's role.
The Senators are expected to use training camp to integrate Eklund into their system, while the Sharks will focus on scouting ahead of the draft's opening round.