Senators Make Major Move, Acquire William Eklund From Sharks

Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chi)

The Ottawa Senators continued their aggressive offseason on Tuesday, acquiring forward William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks as part of a multi-player trade centred around the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Ottawa sent the ninth overall selection, originally acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade, to San Jose in exchange for Eklund, prospect Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to forward Brandon Svoboda.

Eklund becomes an important player with the Senators

Eklund immediately becomes one of the most important additions to the Senators' forward group. The 23-year-old was selected seventh overall by the Sharks in the 2021 NHL Draft and has developed into a productive top-six forward. Over 252 career NHL games, Eklund has recorded 50 goals and 113 assists for 163 points, including 53 points in 78 games during the 2025-26 season.

Senators general manager Steve Staios believes Eklund is a perfect fit for Ottawa's young core.

"William is a dynamic and skilled forward, who plays with a competitive edge," Staios said following the trade announcement. "We are excited to welcome him to the Senators organization and he will fit in well with our core group of players."

The acquisition comes just days after Ottawa traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in one of the biggest moves of the offseason. Rather than using the draft pick they received from Florida, the Senators quickly turned that asset into an established NHL player who can contribute immediately.

Ottawa remains in competitive mode despite Tkachuk's departure

For Ottawa, the move signals that the organization still intends to compete despite moving on from its captain. Eklund is under contract through the 2028-29 season with a cap hit of $5.6 million, giving the Senators cost certainty while adding a young player who has yet to reach his prime.

Meanwhile, the Sharks continue to stockpile draft capital as general manager Mike Grier looks to build around a young core led by players such as Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. With the acquisition of the ninth overall pick, San Jose now owns three first-round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, including the second overall pick.

The trade is a fascinating gamble for both organizations. Ottawa is betting that Eklund can become a long-term top-line contributor, while San Jose is placing its faith in another premium draft selection as part of its rebuild.

As the NHL Draft approaches, this deal could prove to be one of the defining moves of the offseason.