The Ottawa Senators have landed left winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks, sending the No. 9 overall pick in this week's NHL Draft in return. The deal, confirmed Tuesday, also sends prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda to Ottawa.
Eklund, 23, gives the Senators an immediate boost on the wing after posting 16 goals and 29 assists last season. Halttunen, a 2023 second-rounder, and Svoboda, a 2024 third-rounder, add organizational depth to a retooling Ottawa forward group.
For San Jose, the trade nets a high lottery pick in a draft expected to yield immediate contributors. The Sharks now hold two first-round selections, positioning them to accelerate a rebuild that has already landed top prospects Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith in recent years.
The Senators, meanwhile, are in a win-now window after falling short of playoff expectations last spring. That urgency may explain why the front office prioritized an established young forward over another lottery ticket, though some analysts question whether surrendering a top-10 pick for a player yet to prove himself as a consistent top-liner was the right price.
"William is a skilled, competitive player who fits our timeline," Ottawa general manager Steve Staios told reporters. "We felt the value was right to add a player of his caliber while still maintaining flexibility." The Sharks will now turn their attention to the draft floor, where they are expected to target a high-end center or defenseman with the No. 9 selection.