Eklund recorded a shorthanded assist in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Stars.
The helper extended Eklund's point streak to five games (two goals, five assists). He also has two power-play points in that span, which has showcased his all-situations importance to the Sharks. The 22-year-old is up to four goals, 12 helpers, 33 shots on net and a minus-3 rating through 20 outings this season. Eklund will play heavy minutes as the Sharks continue their rebuild, but he should offer decent scoring contributions, and it looks like he won't be anywhere near the horrendous minus-45 rating he had in 2023-24.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Scores twice Monday
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Eklund scored two goals, including one in the power play, in Monday's 5-4 overtime win over the Red Wings.
Eklund opened his tally Monday with a wrister midway through the first period when the Sharks had the man advantage, and he later doubled it in the second frame with an even-strength goal. He's up to four goals on the season, but he's not relying solely upon his goal contributions to make an impact. This two-goal performance extended Eklund's current point streak to four games, where he's also racked up four helpers.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Two helpers against Philly
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Eklund collected two assists while adding four hits, one shot and a plus-2 rating in Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
The 22-year-old helped spark a comeback from a 3-0 deficit by having a hand in tallies by Jack Thompson and Mikael Granlund late in the second period. Eklund snapped a brief three-game point drought with this performance, but over his last 13 contests, the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has racked up an impressive two goals and 10 points.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Gathers helper in loss
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Eklund notched an assist in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Canucks.
Eklund helped out on a Mikael Granlund goal in the third period. With four points over his last five games, Eklund continues to offer consistent offense in a top-line role. The 22-year-old winger is up to two goals, seven helpers, 24 shots on net, six blocked shots and a minus-5 rating through 12 appearances this season. Eklund has the potential to exceed his 45-point campaign from 2023-24, but he still carries some risks since he's on a team that mostly lacks secondary scoring threats.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Puts away empty-netter
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Eklund scored an empty-net goal on three shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Kings.
Eklund has two goals and three assists over his last six games. The 22-year-old winger hasn't been particularly flashy, but he's been consistent while seeing top-six usage for the Sharks -- his 18:26 of ice time Tuesday was a season low. He's collected eight points, 23 shots on net and a minus-4 rating over 10 appearances, and while the scoring pace might dip, he should do better than the 45-point campaign he had in 2023-24.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Offers assist in loss
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Eklund notched an assist and went minus-2 in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Golden Knights.
Eklund found the scoresheet for the third time in four games (one goal, two assists), but he also has a minus-7 rating in that span. The 22-year-old forward is playing in a top-six role and regularly sees in excess of 20 minutes of ice time. Eklund has produced a goal, five assists, 19 shots on net and a minus-7 rating through eight appearances this season and should continue to thrive on offense even as the Sharks struggle as a team.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Grabs power-play helper
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Eklund logged a power-play assist and three shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Ducks.
Eklund has four points over his last three games, and two of those points have come on the power play. The 22-year-old winger is reportedly playing through some discomfort, but his performance on offense has been fine despite that issue. Eklund has a goal, four assists, 17 shots on net, five blocked shots and a minus-2 rating across six appearances.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Power-play goal in loss
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Eklund scored a power-play goal on three shots in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Avalanche.
Eklund hasn't been at 100 percent lately, but it hasn't affected his play when he's been able to suit up. He has three points over his last two contests, but he missed Friday's game in Winnipeg while managing an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old winger should see top-six minutes and power-play time when he plays. He's at four points, 14 shots on net, four blocked shots and a minus-1 rating through five appearances.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Not playing Friday
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Eklund (upper body) will not play Friday in Winnipeg, according to Max Miller of NHL.com.
Eklund played hurt versus Chicago on Thursday after he was considered a game-time decision ahead of the contest. While he managed to set up both goals in a 4-2 loss, Eklund said after the game that he was not 100 percent. Klim Kostin could move up to the top line alongside Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli in Eklund's absence.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Playing through injury
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Eklund told reporters after Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks that he's "not 100 percent," Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
At least in Thursday's contest, it was a fair clarification to make, as Eklund put up a pair of assists and two shots on goal while playing 19:02. The 22-year-old winger looks prepared to play through the upper-body issue for now, though he may have his minutes managed in the near term. Eklund has three assists, 11 shots on net, four blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating through four appearances to begin the year.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Good to play
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Eklund (upper body) will play Thursday versus Chicago, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
Eklund was considered a game-time decision after missing Wednesday's practice. He has an assist in three appearances in 2024-25. Eklund is projected to play on the first line alongside Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Dealing with upper-body injury
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Eklund didn't practice Wednesday due to an upper-body injury, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky called Eklund's upper-body injury a "little nagging" issue and indicated that the 22-year-old will likely be a game-time decision for Thursday's matchup against Chicago. Over his first three appearances of the 2024-25 season, Eklund has recorded an assist, nine shots on goal and four blocked shots while averaging 22:27 of ice time.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Battling upper-body injury
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Eklund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now on Friday.
Eklund should still be fine for Opening Night against St. Louis on Oct. 10, but he might miss some preseason action due to the injury. He had 16 goals and 45 points in 80 contests with the Sharks last season.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Scores hat trick
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Eklund collected three goals -- including one in overtime -- in a 3-2 win over the Blues on Saturday.
Eklund was hot as a pistol against the Blues. He scored twice on the power play in the second period and then added the game-winner in the extra frame for his 15th of the year. The 21-year-old rookie is now on a modest four-game point streak, collecting three goals and three assists over that span. While he might not be a must-start option right now, Eklund is continuing to develop, which makes him a player to monitor closely in future drafts.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Records helper Saturday
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Eklund posted a power-play assist in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Blackhawks.
Eklund set up the second of Fabian Zetterlund's two goals in the second period. The 21-year-old Eklund has gotten on the scoresheet in each of the last two games despite playing on the fourth line. The winger has 32 points, 109 shots on net, 60 blocked shots and a minus-42 rating through 68 contests overall. His current assignment is less than encouraging, but his presence on the top power-play unit at least offers some upside.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Deposits lone goal in loss
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Eklund scored a goal in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Lightning.
Eklund entered Thursday on a five-game point drought, and he had gone eight contests without a goal. That earned him a demotion to the fourth line, but he bounced back well by tying the game at 1-1 in the first period. Eklund has 11 goals, 31 points, 109 shots on net, 59 blocked shots and a minus-42 rating over 67 appearances. He's still got some bumps in the road ahead while playing for a rebuilding team, but he's shown a lot of positives this season, his first full NHL campaign.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Hands out power-play helper
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Eklund recorded a power-play assist in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Islanders.
Eklund has a pair of goals and two assists over his last four outings. His feed toward the net bounced off Thomas Bordeleau's skate and in for the Sharks' first goal. Eklund continues to put up solid offense despite the dwindling talent on the team around him. He has 29 points (10 on the power play), 97 shots on net, 56 blocked shots and a minus-34 rating through 60 appearances this season.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Needs help off the ice
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Eklund was helped off the ice at the end of Tuesday's 7-6 overtime loss to the Stars, and head coach David Quinn had no update on his status following the game, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Eklund posted a power-play assist and a minus-4 rating in the contest. The Sharks are already running thin down the middle -- Eklund's a natural winger but has been playing at center in recent weeks. An update on his status should be available prior to Thursday's game versus the Islanders.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Game-time call
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Eklund (illness) will be a game-time decision Tuesday versus Dallas, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
If Eklund is able to go, he should return to a featured role following his one-game absence, skating on the second line and first power-play unit against the Stars. He's picked up 10 goals and 27 points through 58 contests this season.
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Sharks' William Eklund: Not playing Sunday
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Eklund (illness) will not suit up Sunday against the Wild, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Eklund appears to be a late scratch Sunday due to his illness. The 21-year-old has 10 goals and 27 points through 58 games this season. In his absence, Kevin Labanc will likely get back in the lineup. Eklund's next chance to play will be Tuesday against the Stars.
