Senators’ William Eklund out 10-to-12 weeks with torn tendon in ankle

Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his ankle and will miss the next 10-to-12 weeks, Ottawa Citizen reporter Bruce Garrioch said Thursday.

Eklund, 24, suffered the injury during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 8. The following day, Senators head coach Travis Green said he would be out “for an extended period” of time.

Garrioch also reported that defenseman Artem Zub will make his 2026-27 debut Thuursday night when the Senators host the New York Islanders. Zub suffered a knee injury during Ottawa’s first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.

Fellow defenseman Cameron Crotty has also been activated from injured reserve after he suffered an undisclosed injury Oct. 6 against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Senators acquired Eklund and two prospects from the San Jose Sharks at the NHL Entry Draft last June, in exchange for the 2026 No. 9 overall pick that Ottawa received from the Florida Panthers in a trade that shipped captain Brady Tkachuk to the Sunshine State.

Through four games with Ottawa, Eklund has a goal and an assist with nine shots. Now in his fourth season as a full-time NHLer, the Swedish winger has 51 goals and 114 assists for 165 points in 256 career games with the Senators and Sharks.

He’s recorded at least 15 goals and 45 points in each of his first three full campaigns, including a career-high 58 in 2024-25.

Eklund, taken by the Sharks with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, also spent one season with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, where he recorded 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 54 games.

After his 2024-25 campaign, Eklund and the Sharks signed a three-year, $16.8-million contract with a cap hit of $5.6 million through the 2028-29 season.