William Eklund didn’t mention what point Pitbull was at on his setlist on Tuesday night in Stockholm when he received a phone call that informed him he was now an Ottawa Senator, but it was safe to say that he was, in fact, having a good time out there.
“Obviously, when you get traded, you get pretty shocked, quickly turned into [being] really excited,” Eklund told local media via a Zoom call on Friday morning (Ottawa time).
“You’re just right away, really excited for the future. You know, the times I’ve played [Ottawa], they’ve been really hard to play against. You know, obviously they’re a very well-rounded team, deep group, I’ve heard really good things about them. A lot of good young guys who are trying to do good things, so I’m just really excited to join that group and do the best I can.”
There are a few reasons for Eklund to be excited about his new team, an organization that has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The chance to play with Tim Stützle is at the forefront of the skilled winger’s mind, as is a reunion with close friend Fabian Zetterlund, who spent parts of three seasons with Eklund in San Jose.
“You know, if you get that opportunity, just do the best you can with it. Obviously he’s been doing really good things with this organization and this league for a while, whoever I play with is going to be a fun journey,” said the 23-year-old about the prospect of playing with Stützle.
Eklund arrives in Ottawa after posting seasons of 45, 58, and 53 points since becoming a full-time NHLer in the 2023–24 season. The seventh overall pick in 2021, Eklund signed a three-year, $16.8 million contract extension a year ago which locks him up through the 2028–29 at an affordable $5.8 million cap hit.
“I would say I’m a pretty two-way guy, playing good with the puck and without the puck, and who also brings a lot of energy and effort every night. I like to stick up for my teammates and always be there for them. I can always give my 100 per cent every night, and that’s what I’m going to do for them,” said Eklund.
One teammate particularly familiar with Eklund’s game is Zetterlund, who spoke excitedly on Wednesday about the addition of his former teammate.
“I would say probably his best quality is his skating and his mobility with the puck, cutbacks and all that kind of stuff, and hockey IQ. And I think he’s going to be good especially in the O-zone, I would say, most of the time, but he’s also a great 200-foot player, I know he played a lot of PK minutes too, which is great, so he’s going to be good,” Zetterlund told Sens360’s Jackson Starr.
“Obviously I got close with him there in San Jose, and yeah, it was tough when I left there. But yeah, at the end of the day, it worked out well too, and all of a sudden he’s on the same team again, and yeah, I’m super excited to play with him again, and hang out with him again.
“On the ice, he’s a great player, we all know, he’s going to bring a lot to our team, especially in the locker room, too. He’s a guy that likes to hang out and take care of everyone else, you know, so he’s going to be a great piece.
“I would say he’s positive, he’s happy, he wants to be at the rink and get better, and when everyone else sees that, they’re going to like him, too. He’s just a happy guy to be around, and he’s going to fit good.”
Just how close are Zetterlund and Eklund? Eklund’s father, Christian, himself a former professional with Djurgårdens back in Sweden, now hosts a YouTube channel, and visited Zetterlund at his home in Ottawa last fall.
“A damn different hockey interest here, huh?” Christian asked Zetterlund in Swedish as the two were driving home from Canadian Tire Centre in the video.
“Yes, there is a big difference between the USA and Canada,” replied Zetterlund.
“Hockey in Ottawa is a little bigger than it is in North [California], if you can say that,” said Eklund on Friday.
“Obviously Canada is big in that sport, and it’s pretty cool to play in that place, because I’ve heard great things about it, and great things about the fans, so that’s probably a little different from there.
“I’ve heard great things about the city and everything around it, so I’m just excited for the opportunity.”
