William Eklund eager for fresh start with Senators: ‘The goal is to make a deep playoff run’
This story originally appeared on hockeysverige.se and has been translated from Swedish to English.
After four seasons with the San Jose Sharks, William Eklund is getting the fresh start many around the league expected.
The 23-year-old Swedish forward was traded to the Ottawa Senators earlier this summer. And while the move initially caught him off guard, his excitement quickly took over.
“I was actually at a Pitbull concert when I saw (Sharks GM Mike Grier) calling,” Eklund said with a laugh. “I didn’t know exactly what it was about, but I had a feeling something might be happening. At first, you’re just shocked. I think every player who gets traded feels that way. But once I heard it was Ottawa, I got excited immediately.”
Speaking with Hockeysverige.se during an offseason training session at Ice Academy outside Stockholm, Eklund admitted he wasn’t expecting the call when Grier reached him.
One of the biggest reasons? He’ll once again share the ice with close friend Fabian Zetterlund, who was also acquired by the Senators earlier this offseason.
“I called him pretty much right away, and he was excited too. It’s going to be a lot of fun, both on and off the ice. We’re really close friends. Honestly, I never thought we’d end up playing together again.”
The two developed strong chemistry during their time together in San Jose, something Eklund hopes they’ll rediscover in Ottawa.
“We played together quite a bit, and I thought it worked really well. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to build on that.”
Eklund will also have the opportunity to work with assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson, one of the greatest players in Senators history.
“That makes it even more exciting,” Eklund said. “He’s a Swedish legend and a hockey icon in Ottawa. I know I can learn a lot from him, and that’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
Although the two haven’t spoken since the trade, Eklund expects that conversation to happen before training camp.
While the Sharks endured several rebuilding seasons during Eklund’s tenure, the former seventh-overall pick says the organization played a huge role in both his hockey development and his personal growth.
“It was a great chapter for me. That’s where I entered the NHL and got my opportunity. We had some difficult years as a team, but I developed a lot as both a player and a person.”
Eklund says learning how to handle the demands of an 82-game NHL schedule was one of the biggest lessons.
“You learn what it means to be a professional every single day. How to prepare, how to eat, how to recover. And mentally, you learn how to respond when things aren’t going your way.”
Among his favorite memories with the Sharks are his NHL debut, his first career hat trick, and a memorable goal in Boston last season.
“There are a lot of great memories. My first games, my first hat trick, the goal in Boston… I’ll always look back on my time in San Jose with a smile.”
The move also brings a significant shift in expectations. Unlike the rebuilding Sharks, Ottawa is firmly focused on competing.
For Eklund, there’s no ambiguity about the objective.
“The expectation is to make a deep playoff run. That’s the biggest difference. In Ottawa, the standard is to be in the playoffs every year, and getting there isn’t enough. We want to go much further.”
And when asked whether it’s finally time for a Canadian team to end the country’s long Stanley Cup drought, Eklund didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully it’s Ottawa.”