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

[Dr Quincy]

Or Gustafsson.

Taking the 5th or 6th best D in the draft instead of the 1st is a strategy.

 

[matt trick]

What kind of deal could be done for Ristolainen + for the 9oa?

Zero interest in that. I’d sign Risto in free agency, but I wouldn’t trade more than 27th for him.

 

[Sharksfan83]

Love Eklund, you guys will love his motor. I didnt want to move him, but the Sharks are logged at forward, I cant even see where they all fit this year.

 

[MMC]

SJ probably has the best GM in hockey

He's never even made the f***ing playoffs

 

[Patty Ice]

9 could be used on hamilton, nurse or reilly, sharks may even get something extra if teams need the cap space more than a player.

 

[Patty Ice]

What kind of deal could be done for Ristolainen + for the 9oa?

A no deal.

 

[Rebels57]

What kind of deal could be done for Ristolainen + for the 9oa?

Risto + 21 for 9 + 2nd rounder?

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I understand why it made sense for SJ but I really like this for Ottawa. Stutzle and Eklund will be quite a duo for any slower footed dmen to try and handle, so much pace and relentless energy.

 

[Patty Ice]

Risto + 21 for 9 + 2nd rounder?

Easy no.

The audacity to even ask SJ to include another pick.

 

[BondraTime]

Very solid for both teams.

Think Eklund will thrive with more responsibility with Stu, has a great contract and control. Fits in either Ottawa like a glove.

Sharks are already stacked up front, are able to immediately replace Eklund with Stenberg, and are then able to grab the D they had likely been eying leading up to the draft in Rudolph/Smit/Verhoeff/Gus or whomever they take at 9.

Sharks are building a very scary core.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

The guy was a team worst -31 last season, following a league worst -45 in 2023-2024.

If he's a solid defensive winger, so is every other winger in the NHL. He's been a minus player basically every year, in every league he's played in.

+/- is not a stat that gauges defensive ability.

 

[Sting]

+/- is not a stat that gauges defensive ability.

It's a reflection of team strength, ice time and matchups more than anything.

Also, quite frankly, Tkachuk is one of the worst defensive players in the league. Besides a low hockey IQ, he has no motor to backcheck. Something tells me Eklund will be better in that regard. It wouldn't be hard....

 

[KevinRedkey]

+/- is not a stat that gauges defensive ability.

Lidstrom won the Norris with a -2 while his teammate Justin Abdelkader was a +15

Just an example I thought of which illustrates your point.

 

[NyQuil]

+/- is not a stat that gauges defensive ability.

If one of the most notorious Sens haters is reaching with plus/minus, you know it can't be that bad.