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No. 4 William Eklund: Growing into an NHL star

Posted on by Annie Moore

William Eklund’s path to the San Jose Sharks has been one of the most closely watched prospect journeys in the league. Drafted 7th overall by San Jose in the 2021 NHL Draft, he came into the organization with huge expectations as a future face of the franchise. After spending time developing in Sweden with Djurgårdens IF and splitting a couple of seasons between the Barracuda and the Sharks, Eklund finally became a full-time NHLer in 2023-24, and he didn’t disappoint.

In 2024-25, Eklund built on a strong rookie campaign, flashing the offensive creativity that made him such a high draft pick. His playmaking stood out, often driving San Jose’s top six offense despite playing on a rebuilding team. Last year, he ranked near the top of our list, and he’s once again one of the premier names in this year’s Top 25 Under 25 — not a newcomer by any means, but a cornerstone player whose development continues to trend up.

Position: LW/C
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 22
Date of Birth: Oct. 12, 2002
Draft Year: 2021 (7th overall by the San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Left
2025-26 Team: San Jose Sharks (NHL)

What we like

What makes Eklund so exciting is his hockey IQ and creativity with the puck. He has the ability to slow the game down and find passing lanes that most players just don’t see. His vision allows him to set up his linemates for high-danger chances, which is exactly what the Sharks need as the team continues to build around its young core.

Another thing that really stands out is how competitive he is. Eklund doesn’t shy away from contact, even if he’s not the biggest guy on the ice. He’s willing to get into the dirty areas, fight for pucks along the boards, and dig in behind the net to make plays happen. In recent games, he’s added some swagger to go with it. Not only is he going into those dirty areas, but he’s smug about it too. Smiling as he does it. That kind of work ethic is contagious, and you can already see it rubbing off on other players.

On top of that, Eklund’s shot has been improving steadily. While he came into the league known more as a passer than a shooter, he’s learning to be a little more selfish with the puck and pick his spots. That’s opened up his game even more. Defenses can’t just sit back and take away his passing lanes because now he’s a legit scoring threat too.

Areas of improvement

As good as Eklund has been, there are still areas where he can level up. For one, he could still stand to add a little more muscle and strength to his frame. He battles hard, but bigger defensemen can still push him off the puck in the corners. A little more physical maturity will go a long way toward helping him win those one-on-one battles more consistently.

Another area to watch is his consistency. There were stretches last season where he’d be electric for a few games and then go quiet for a week. That’s not unusual for a young player, but if he wants to be a true top-line driver, he needs to be noticeable every single night, even when he’s not hitting the scoresheet.

Defensively, Eklund has improved, but there’s room to grow. He’s capable of being an effective two-way winger. He’s smart enough for it, but there are still moments where he cheats for offense and leaves the defense hanging. Finding that balance between creating chances and taking care of his own end will be key to unlocking his next level.

What’s next for Eklund?

Eklund is locked in as a top-six forward for San Jose heading into the 2025-26 season, and the expectation is that he’ll take another step forward offensively. If he can build on his sophomore season numbers and be more consistent, we could be talking about him as a point-per-game player before too long.

Beyond this season, Eklund is positioned to be a piece of the Sharks’ rebuild. The organization is clearly building around him and Macklin Celebrini, and the two could form one of the most dangerous duos in the league if everything clicks. A breakout season could also put him in the conversation for more league-wide recognition.

This is the final season of his entry-level contract, and the Sharks have already locked him into a three-year bridge contract that will give him a pay bump. Eklund is clearly part of the Sharks’ plans moving forward and he continues to step up his game each and every season. There’s no reason to believe this will not be another season of the same.

Highlights

Eklund took on more responsibility this past season, especially on the penalty kill. It made a difference. The Sharks were a better offensive threat because of Eklund’s creativity, speed and hockey IQ on the penalty kill.

He’s also pretty dang good on the power play.

At even strength…

And, as we said, Eklund is getting feisty. This was his first career fight against the Seattle Kraken’s Eeli Toivanen on April 5, 2025.

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