S.J. picks Swedish forward with No. 7 selection in draft

Swedish teenager William Eklund was already elated to be drafted seventh overall by the Sharks on Friday.

Then San Jose defenseman Erik Karlsson joined the Zoom call with Bay Area media, and Eklund’s excitement level jumped another notch.

“He was just saying welcome to the organization, and we’ll see each other around,” Eklund, 18, said of their conversation in Swedish. “And he’s just so happy to have another Swede here, too.”

Eklund has a ways to go to gain the worship following as his fellow countryman, but he’s ready to embark on that path.

If the NHL’s central scouting assessment of the 5foot10, 176pound forward as the topranked European skater available is true, San Jose may have something in its near future with Eklund.

The Sharks will conclude the twoday virtual selection of amateur talent when rounds 27 occur Saturday. San Jose goes into Day 2 of the draft with seven more selections.

Friday, however, was all about the franchise’s earliest pick since Milan Michalek was taken sixth overall in 2003.

“I’m just so happy, and so excited to be with this organization,” Eklund said. “I’m just looking forward to it.”

Eklund’s selfassessment of his skills matches what scouts report. He’s a strong skater who plays a twoway game. Eklund sees himself as an offensive threat, good in the corners, a strong passer who strives to play a responsible 200foot game.

Eklund said he’s a big fan of Islanders center Mathew Barzal, and tries to pattern his play on Barzal’s game.

“He’s so good at finding teammates in tight spaces,” Eklund said. “I’m trying to watch him to improve my game.”

The lefthanded shooting Eklund played last season for Djurgardens in Sweden’s top men’s league, where he scored 11 goals and 23 points in 40 games.

The biggest takeaway, however, was Eklund’s ability to play with and learn from much older players.

“I was just trying to learn from the older guys on the team, how they act to make them successful for all those years, and adapt my game that way,” he said.

Eklund did not participate in the 2021 World Junior Championships after testing positive for the coronavirus. He had been named to Sweden’s preliminary roster beforehand.

Eklund did not commit when asked if he had a signed contract to return to Sweden for another season, or if he might attend San Jose’s development camp in August.

“I think that’s going to be a conversation between me and the club,” the native of Haninge, Sweden, said. “I can’t really focus on that right now.”