Senators land Eklund to reshape forward group

Ottawa sent the No. 9 pick to San Jose for William Eklund along with Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda rights after acquiring that pick from Florida in the Tkachuk deal.

Trade details and player production

The Senators received Eklund, 21-year-old right winger Kasper Halttunen and the rights to unsigned center Brandon Svoboda. In exchange they gave up only the ninth overall selection in the 2026 NHL draft. Eklund posted 15 goals and 38 assists for 53 points in 78 games during the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old has accumulated 252 career NHL games across five seasons and three full-time campaigns since being selected seventh overall in 2021.

Halttunen recorded 16 goals and 35 points in 69 AHL games after helping the London Knights win the Memorial Cup in 2025. San Jose drafted him 36th overall in 2023. Svoboda, a seventh-round selection from 2023, tallied six goals and 15 points in his second season at Boston University.

The deal completes a two-trade week for Ottawa that also involved sending forward Brady Tkachuk, who scored 59 points in 60 games, to another club. In return the Senators collected Eklund, Halttunen, Svoboda, the 25th overall pick and a top-10 protected 2029 first-round selection.

Draft implications for both clubs

San Jose now controls the second, ninth and 20th overall picks in the 2026 draft. The Sharks had already traded one of their top left-wing prospects, leaving at least one of Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg available at the second selection. Ottawa retains the 25th pick to address remaining roster needs without surrendering future high-end assets.

Eklund’s two-way intelligence and playmaking fit directly into Ottawa’s system needs. His 38 assists ranked among the higher totals for 23-year-old wingers league-wide. The addition shifts Ottawa’s prospect pipeline away from the ninth pick toward immediate NHL contributors.

Forward depth and long-term outlook

Ottawa’s forward group gains a proven 53-point producer who has already logged 252 regular-season games. The incoming prospects Halttunen and Svoboda add AHL and collegiate depth that can develop behind the NHL roster. Combined with the 25th pick, the Senators maintain draft capital while accelerating their competitive timeline.

The Sharks receive three first-round selections in a single draft, allowing them to target both a defenseman and forward at the top of the board. Their strategy now centers on replenishing the prospect pool after parting with Eklund.

The Senators now hold the No. 25 pick and a protected 2029 first-rounder while the Sharks gained the second, ninth and 20th selections for the June 2026 draft.