The San Jose Sharks own two top-10 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft after they completed a trade that sends William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators.
San Jose now owns the No. 2 and No. 9 picks in the draft. The 9th pick is originally owned by the Florida Panthers, who moved it in the Brady Tkachuk deal. Along with Eklund, the Sharks also traded prospects Kasper Halttunen and the signing rights to former third-round pick Brandon Svoboda.
In 252 games with the Sharks, Eklund scored 50 goals and 113 assists.
San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier met with the media on Tuesday morning. During that media availability, Grier told reporters he felt it was the right time to make a splash move. Although trading for the 9th-overall pick isn’t an immediate impact splash move, it could be setting up something bigger.
“If the player fits and makes us better and is in the right age group, then I think we’d be in on them for sure. It’s all about the fit and the age, and so if those guys become available for sure,” Grier said. “It’s something we’re not afraid to do, and try to get in on. I think we’re at the right spot in our path here to possibly add a big piece.”
Eklund signed a three-year contract with a $5.6 million AAV before the start of the 25-26 season. The first year of that contract would begin on July 1.
Svoboda, 21, was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He hasn’t signed his entry-level contract yet, and currently plays for Boston University. Halttunen, 21, was a second-round pick in the same draft. The Finnish winger played the entire season with the San Jose Barracuda in 25-26, scoring 16 goals and 19 assists in 69 games.
With three forwards traded out of the organization, this paves the way for the Sharks to draft Ivar Stenberg No. 2 overall, that is, if they keep the pick.
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