Eklund heads to Sweden: ‘I did what I could to stay here’
SAN JOSE Doing what they feel is in the best longterm interests of their top prospect, the Sharks on Friday officially decided to return forward William Eklund back to his club team, Djurgardens, in the Swedish Hockey League instead of keeping him in the NHL.
Eklund, 19, had played nine NHL games this season and the Sharks had to determine before he played his 10th game whether to keep him in San Jose or return him to his homeland. By sending him back, the Sharks delay the start of his entry-level contract, which now won’t kick in until next season when he returns to North America.
The Sharks host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday to close out a fivegame homestand.
Sharks general manager Doug Wilson spoke with Eklund on Friday morning before the start of the team’s practice to explain his decision. Sharks coach Bob Boughner, still in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, spoke with Eklund on the phone and other coaches met with the teenage winger individually.
“This was one of the toughest decisions we have had to make,” Wilson said in a statement.
“In his nine NHL games as a teenager, he has shown that he is going to be a special player in this league but ultimately, we feel it is in the best interest of his long-term development to return to Sweden and continue to work on becoming the dominant player we know he can be.”
Eklund, drafted seventh overall by the Sharks in the first round of July’s NHL Draft, had played in the Sharks’ top-six forward group since the start of the team’s training camp in September and had four points in nine regular-season games.
Eklund was clearly crestfallen by the Sharks’ decision, as he felt as if he had done enough to remain with the team for the time being.
“I think I did what I could to stay here,” Eklund said. “I just tried to do my best every day, but of course, rules are rules.”
No Sharks draft pick since Patrick Marleau in 1997 had been able to remain with the team for an entire season in the same year they were drafted.
Eklund played his ninth game with the Sharks on Thursday night and without a point in San Jose’s 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Of his four points, all assists, three came on the power play.