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C/LW William Eklund - San Jose Sharks, NHL (2021, 7th, SJS)

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Eye of Ra said:
william eklund is gritty and physical, so not really similiar to backstrom and nylander.
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Is he really more gritty/physical than Backstrom? From what I’ve seen, he has a good compete level, is strong on the puck and wins puck battles, but isn’t a big hitter or anything like that. All of that describes Backstrom too - he’s also a smaller forward who competes super hard, wins puck battles, and is very strong on the puck.

FWIW, Backstrom drew lots of Forsberg and Zetterberg comps as a prospect, for his strength on the puck, compete level, and ability to win puck battles.
 
teravaineSAROS said:
He's 97 kg (214lbs) no? I don't know if I'd describe him as a "smaller forward"
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Yeah, "average sized" is probably more fair than "smaller" for Backstrom. But for a guy who's generally listed at 6', sometimes 6'1", he plays a pretty "strong" game - not nasty, but very good at winning battles and damn hard to knock off the puck. I see some of that in Eklund too, though he's a bit smaller than Backstrom.

Eklund is 5'10" 172 lbs, but he only recently turned 18, he could still grow a bit taller, and will bulk up tonnes. Backstrom has bulked up a lot since draft day, but according to this site (2006 NHL Draft Combine Players) he was 6' 183 lbs on draft day, which seems right. Eklund may be 175+ on draft day, not too far off, though 2" shorter.
 
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And hit into the boards while the door was opening, so has exited the game in the second period. Kid can't catch a break.
 
Had a great game today, no points but bailed out his dmen, two great redirects which eiter slightly missed, or were saved, and is pretty much back to where he was pre-surgery.

And that was followed by Djurgården not playing him in OT, but starting forward stalwart Manuel Ågren in OT and having him play majority of the OT JFC. :laugh:

If I'm the NHL team picking Eklund, the only thing that'd make me toy with the idea of keeping him in Djurgården instead of bringing him over after the draft would be if they promise to play him at C, but he's young so that aint happening.
 
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Motgångarna får Eklund att jobba ännu hårdare: "Talang i världsklass"

Djurgården's 1D Marcus Högström on when Eklund was coming up to the SHL:

Last year he came up and practiced one time, so I said to "Robban"(the coach) that this kid is as good as it gets. He answered "Yes, I like him too". Then I think he practiced one more time, and I said "You don't f***ing send him down again. He's staying here." So I'll take some cred. No, but he's really good. Twists and turns and is hard to get. Strong legs. I think he has everything, really.
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The article includes A LOT more quotes(including Eklund himself), with teammate Rhett Rakhshani, and assistant coach Jörgen Bemström praising him at pretty much everything, and particularly his competetiveness. Usually the last guy at practice.
 
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