Prospect Info: Sharks Select William Eklund at 7th Overall *Update* returned to Djurgarden

[hohosaregood]

Pickles was coming off an amazing, and underpaid, few years and was unreal in those 2 playoff runs. He wasn't washed up until the contract triggered.

It's still surprising how hard Vlasic fell off. We were so convinced that his game was the type that would age well. Turns out he relied on his skating way more than we thought he did.

 

[CupfortheSharks]

Team did the mlb move of purposely holding back a player who’s ready to save a year of service time.

Pathetic.

I think they sent him back to Sweden because they feel it’s best for his development. Let’s face it, 99% of the players in the league didn’t play in the NHL their draft year. They play in their home country, in juniors, or at college. Has there ever been a player Eklund’s size that played in the NHL his draft year? I can’t think of one. This was always the most probable outcome. Theres no need to rush the best prospect we’ve had in a long time.

 

[WTFetus]

I think they sent him back to Sweden because they feel it’s best for his development. Let’s face it, 99% of the players in the league didn’t play in the NHL their draft year. They play in their home country, in juniors, or at college. Has there ever been a player Eklund’s size that played in the NHL his draft year? I can’t think of one. This was always the most probable outcome. Theres no need to rush the best prospect we’ve had in a long time.

Not that I disagree but Skinner.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

I miss my boy already. Bring him back.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

Team did the mlb move of purposely holding back a player who’s ready to save a year of service time.

Pathetic.

Is he though? His 5v5 production has been pretty lackluster. While everyone can see the flashes of skill, he hasn’t been able to translate it to consistent point production even though he’s been playing in the top 6. How long would you be comfortable putting him out there at that production level? How long before he starts sliding down the lineup?

I genuinely think the front office was entirely prepared to burn a year of his ELC if he showed he was ready to be a top player. Unfortunately, it looks like he’s not quite there yet.

No worries. He’s got a taste, and the biggest thing to me is that he’s shown he can navigate the smaller ice and avoid getting crushed (watching opposing skater self immolate into the boards while going after Eklund is about as enjoyable a thing as Murray’s reverse checks). I get he’s disappointed, but he also seems like someone who will use it as motivation to get better so this time next year there is no doubt.

None of Couture, Hertl, or Meier spent their D+1 year in the NHL - it didn’t detract any of their development, in fact I’m pretty sure it helped all of them.

 

[TheBigDrunkPanda]

Smart move for his long term development, he was slowing down and he gets muscled off the puck way to easy.

he needs to put on more muscle mass and it will be good for his confidence to go home and dominate the league. If he stayed with the sharks he would’ve been a wreck by mid season potentially ruining him long term.

AHL there always a risk of some bum taking a run at him, not worth the risk. His feelings might be hurt but hopefully it just makes him that much more hungry.

 

[SjMilhouse]

Pickles was coming off an amazing, and underpaid, few years and was unreal in those 2 playoff runs. He wasn't washed up until the contract triggered.

I get that Vlasic has fallen off a cliff and was definitely overpaid at the time but I think people discount (heh) how underpaid he was leading up to the contract and while it was a bit of an overpayment I don't think it was a bad call. I don't think anyone saw him falling off a cliff the way he has

 

[LadyStanley]

Nice. Sniff

 

[Brent Burns]

Liked Brett Hedican's quote in The Athletic story

“If you’re ever shaken the hand of a bricklayer before, it’s big fingers and a big hand, and it’s been beaten up. Bricks have hit that hand and those fingers. Over time, that hand becomes bigger, and it’s grizzled. When I look at William Eklund, there just haven’t been enough bricks hitting his body to build the brain that it’s going to take to play 82 games."

 

[Mafoofoo]

Team did the mlb move of purposely holding back a player who’s ready to save a year of service time.

Pathetic.

Yeah cuz he was scoring at a PPG pace and tilting the ice.


Weatherby has as many points playing less minutes with worse linemates. Also he can score goals

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Yeah cuz he was scoring at a PPG pace and tilting the ice.


Weatherby has as many points playing less minutes with worse linemates. Also he can score goals

Yeah because that’s what I said.

He was a fun player to watch and could have easily had more points. I’m not happy watching the team get worse by this move.

 

[slocal]

Liked Brett Hedican's quote in The Athletic story

That's just f***ing weird and creepy.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

That's just f***ing weird and creepy.

And I think players who had to go to college before playing pros often are a bit jealous of guys like Eklund.

 

[slocal]

And I think players who had to go to college before playing pros often are a bit jealous of guys like Eklund.

And they want to throw bricks at his body.

 

[Mattb124]

Liked Brett Hedican's quote in The Athletic story

Yeah, with the way even players who came through college tend to grind down over the course of an 82 game season, I don’t think Eklund would have been a consistent contributor throughout the season.

 

[Levie]

Funny some people on this board are probably more upset than eklund. It's complete insanity to think he will demand a trade over this. Please.

 

[slocal]

I got a kick out of this ringing endorsement from Couture:

"It’s not our decision. It’s management’s call and that’s the decision that they made,” San Jose captain Logan Couture stressed today. “That’s what we live with. We go out and we play hockey.”

Sharks hockey: that's what we live with!™

 

[TheBeard]

Funny some people on this board are probably more upset than eklund. It's complete insanity to think he will demand a trade over this. Please.

Some can’t shake their negative opinions of DW so anything that can be seen as fuel for the fire will be used.

 

[slocal]

Some can’t shake their negative opinions of DW so anything that can be seen as fuel for the fire will be used.

And some can't stand opinions that don't match their own, so they attempt to stifle conversation with weak shaming.

 

[TheBeard]

And some can't stand opinions that don't match their own, so they attempt to stifle conversation with weak shaming.

I assume you meant don’t match my own, and I also don’t perceive it as shaming. Some don’t like Doug. I get it. I don’t love him. Don’t hate him but I can understand why there’s a lot of hatred towards him.

 

[YUPPY 2 7 10 11]

Funny some people on this board are probably more upset than eklund. It's complete insanity to think he will demand a trade over this. Please.

We are not the only one, Eklund's agent and Brodie Brazil also think he should play in the NHL. it's not insane.

Paywall, but of course his agent want him to be paid.

Kind of funny that most people were expecting him to stay. Still annoyed that he's not.

 

[slocal]

I assume you meant don’t match my own, and I also don’t perceive it as shaming. Some don’t like Doug. I get it. I don’t love him. Don’t hate him but I can understand why there’s a lot of hatred towards him.

You assume a lot. Posters on this board need to get back to discussing posts and not the posters. That's my point.

Discussion from all angles is healthy.

 

[TheBeard]

We are not the only one, Eklund's agent and Brodie Brazil also think he should play in the NHL. it's not insane.

Wait wait wait… are YOU telling me the guy that makes a percentage of Eklund’s money doesn’t think the team should burn a year of his cheap ELC and send him back? That’s crazy talk.

 

[TheBeard]

You assume a lot. Posters on this board need to get back to discussing posts and not the posters. That's my point.

Discussion from all angles is healthy.

No, the assume part was that I believe you forgot to add the word “dont” in your original post. Don’t match my opinion. I think?

 

[Levie]

We are not the only one, Eklund's agent and Brodie Brazil also think he should play in the NHL. it's not insane.

Eklund's agent posturing for his client and Brodie giving his honest take aren't the same as some people on this thread saying he should ask for a trade.

I'm 100% ok with people thinking he should stay, or being disappointed he won't be around. But it's completely insane to think that he should request a trade because he didn't get to play in his draft year. Like literal fantasy land to think he should.