Biography

BIOGRAPHY

William Eklund was born October 12, 2002, in Haninge, Sweden. He is a forward in the NHL.

Eklund made his debut in the Swedish Hockey League on 4 January 2020 playing for Djurgårdens IF in a 4–2 win away against IK Oskarshamn. He played a total of 20 regular season games and scoring two points during the rest of the 2019–20 SHL season. He collected five points in his first eight games in the 2020–21 SHL season. Considered the top international prospect for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by NHL Central Scouting, he was selected seventh overall by the San Jose Sharks.

Eklund was signed by the Sharks to a three-year, entry-level contract on 16 August 2021. He made his NHL debut on 16 October 2021, in a 4–3 win over the Winnipeg Jets, where he also registered his first point, an assist. After playing nine games with the Sharks, he was reassigned back to Sweden on 5 November 2021. Eklund scored his first NHL goal on 14 March 2023, in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.