Confirmed Trade: [OTT/SJS] William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, Brandon Svoboda for 2026 FLA 1st round pick (9th overall)

[TheEpauletteShark]

I don’t like this at all. Didn’t get Spence back at least and had to give up Hal. We gave up way too much for 9th. If we take Rudolph I’m gonna be f***ing pissed. He gives 0 shits about playing defense

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Obviously they didn't want to take much of an immediate step back.

I agree. I think Bjorck is ready to play right away thats why I think he would've made more sense.

Not that Eklund is bad, it could turn out very well for them, it just feels like they decided they were moving the pick for whatever the best W they could get was & locked in on doing it asap.

 

[T1K]

The posters saying that it's a bad deal for Ottawa probably don't have any idea or knowledge about any of the players involved.

Eklund almost replaces Brady's production while being younger.

Extreme copium

 

[Canovin]

San Jose getting ready for Matthews

 

[Brain Crush]

Are you sure?

Yeah, if Brady Tkachuk stays injured and checked-out maybe it'll stay that way but I'll bet on him bouncing back in Florida. The dude's a dumbass but he's a great hockey player, it's a little silly to pretend otherwise.

With that said - Ottawa had to do something, they couldn't keep the pick.

 

[GKJ]

What is SJ loading up for? I thought they were ready to pivot away from the draft.

Rhymes with Wach Zerenski

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

If you guys can get a real top line LW the forward group looks legit, but otherwise yikes on this move.

?-Stutzle-Batherson
Eklund-Cozens-Zetterlund
Greig-Pinto-Giroux
Foegele-?-Amadio

I don’t know man. Zetterlund shouldn’t be in the top six. Giroux has really aged. Batherson is a bit of a floater…

 

[Grinner]

People are pretending like Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda are throw-ins. They're not.

I agree. It's more of a numbers thing

 

[gary559]

What a shitty week to be a Sens fan

I like the moves tbh.

I think technically Zman was right

throw ins don't count

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

Does SJ shore up their defence in one draft with Reid and someone like Smits or do they take Stenberg and Rudolph or someone who falls to 9th? Either way good trade by SJ here and if I were them I’d take both Dmen and call it a day from a rebuild perspective on the backend.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

What is SJ loading up for? I thought they were ready to pivot away from the draft.

HELLEBUYCK

 

[Spawn]

I wish that teams waited until draft day for these deals, purely from an entertainment point of view.

Imagine the hell that would have broken loose if when Florida was on the clock at #9 a 3-way deal was announced with all these pieces.

 

[brrt]

That's a nice trade. San Jose can pick a defenseman without needing to reach for one at 2. And Eklund is awesome and fits perfectly in Ottawa's age range. Very tidy to get a new 1LW that quickly.

 

[Leo2Cutter]

Everyone saying "SJ is going to be a real problem now"...I don't get it. They were before this trade. I don't see this as a massive needle mover for them if anything it delays their arrival some.

I mean they are about to add Stenberg + a good dmen at 9 to their pool.

Stenberg will be their 2nd best player behind Celebrini... hell be a big upgrade over Eklund imo.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Absolutely love this move for Ottawa. Likely means that San Jose is drafting Stenberg or they have another trade in the works. Werenski maybe?

 

[Leo2Cutter]

I wish that teams waited until draft day for these deals, purely from an entertainment point of view.

Imagine the hell that would have broken loose if when Florida was on the clock at #9 a 3-way deal was announced with all these pieces.

Eh i like this stuff being early.... draft should mostly be about the young kids getting drafted... not big trades happening.

 

[GKJ]

Yeah, if Brady Tkachuk stays injured and checked-out maybe it'll stay that way but I'll bet on him bouncing back in Florida. The dude's a dumbass but he's a great hockey player, it's a little silly to pretend otherwise.

If you’re waiting a year and of the belief he’s checked out, you’re not getting what you did.

 

[BillR10]

Happiest person will be Eklund reuniting with his BFF Zetterlund.

As a sharks fan surprised they moved that much but it's all pieces that aren't going to make the Sharks anytime soon so it gives them contract spots. Now let's see if MG tries to package 9 + 27 to move up to get the dman he wants

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Great move by the sens. Parlay one win into another

 

[T1K]

What is SJ loading up for? I thought they were ready to pivot away from the draft.

They opened up a spot in the top 6 for Stenberg while also addressing their need for a future top pairing D man. It’s as much of a home run as they could’ve hoped for.

 

[Sandisfan]

William was given the name Gecko for his skating from his teammates. You will love him competes for pucks on the boards passes very well and he is slightly above average defensively for a forward. He got a bad skate cut on his hand in a post regular season tournament previous off season, likely his shooting hand was affected but My guess will be it will come back next season with a full off season to improve his shot.

 

[CDN24]

This seems bad for Ottawa. Isn't Eklund just an undersized 60 point winger? These guys grow on trees

Brady has been an over sized 60 pt winger last couple seasons. You were never replacing Brady with one player. I like this Brady for Eklund 2 1sts , 2 prospects and a 2nd sounds decent. Eklund is what 23 - he is still improving

 

[Spawn]

Eh i like this stuff being early.... draft should mostly be about the young kids getting drafted... not big trades happening.

Fair enough. I think as an Oiler fan with no 1st round picks in what feels like years, I need something to get excited for on draft day. Purely from a selfish pov

 

[VeniVidiVlasic]

Honestly happy that the besties of EK72 and Zetts are back together. Some things just need to be a thing in the universe. Eklund teases, but the net production for whatever hasn’t materialized, especially becoming a 30 goal scorer. He’s got some scrap factor in his otherwise not large frame. Fun to watch. Last season often felt like a change of scenery could do him good. Zetts is over the moon right now. SJ Sharkie is going to need a while to recover.

I’m a fan of Smits. Will be Ok walking away from the draft with Stenberg and Smits

I wonder if the Sharks package 9+27 to move up a tad and really feel like they get the Dman they want.

 

[ranold26]

For…. Ottawa….?

If you look at what the 9th overall has turned into over the last 20 years, William Eklund should turn into a top-tier type of player in that group.