Eklund out 10-12 weeks for Senators following ankle surgery

William Eklund will be out 10-12 weeks for the Ottawa Senators after having surgery to repair a torn tendon in his ankle.

The forward left during the first period of a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 8 after being hit awkwardly into the boards by Flyers defenseman Simon Benoit. Eklund was unable to put weight on his left leg as he headed down the tunnel and did not return.

At the time of the injury, Green said Eklund would be sidelined an "extended" period of time and that he expected the 23-year-old to return sometime during the regular season.

Eklund has two points (one goal, one assist) in four games this season. Selected by the San Jose Sharks with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, he has 165 points (51 goals, 114 assists) in 256 regular-season games with the Sharks and Senators, including three straight seasons with at least 15 goals and 45 points. 

Eklund came to Ottawa in a trade with San Jose on June 23. He was acquired with forward Kasper Halttunen and the rights to forward prospect Brandon Svoboda for the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which the Senators acquired from the Florida Panthers in the trade for forward Brady Tkachuk on June 21.

The Senators (5-2-0) host the New York Islanders at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, MSGSN). Defenseman Artem Zub will make his season debut; he had been out with a knee injury sustained during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes last season.

NHL.com independent correspondent Zoe Pierce contributed to this report