SAN JOSE – Sharks ahead William Eklund carried the puck throughout the blue line in additional time Friday evening earlier than he minimize towards the center of the ice on the high of the circle.
Eklund then rapidly spun to proper, put the puck on his backhand, and zipped round Anaheim Geese defenseman Olen Zellweger. As he obtained to the crease, Eklund then put a shot on web and tapped the rebound previous Geese goalie Gage Alexander for the dazzling game-winning aim.
“(Zellweger’s) skate was going in the direction of me, so I used to be making an attempt the spin-o-rama transfer there,” Eklund mentioned of his aim that gave the Sharks a 3-2 win. “Fortunately it went via.
“I like these spin-o-rama strikes.”
So did the few hundred followers in attendance at Tech CU Enviornment for the Sharks’ first sport on the NHL Rookie Faceoff. It’s additionally doubtless the dozen or so members of the Sharks’ mind belief, perched in a single nook of the sector, loved what they noticed from Eklund, as properly.
Eklund, San Jose’s most tantalizing prospect since Timo Meier, additionally had a aim and an help in regulation time Friday, exhibiting why he may very well be an enormous asset to the scoring-challenged Sharks this season. Coaching camp begins Wednesday.
“My aim is to make the staff,” Eklund mentioned. “That’s what I wish to do, precisely like final yr.”
Eklund with the spinorama to finish it OT pic.twitter.com/HTz6pbUDnK
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) September 17, 2022
Regardless that normal supervisor Mike Grier improved the Sharks’ ahead depth within the offseason, there might nonetheless be a spot for Eklund on the season-opening 23-man roster.
Grier added a handful of veterans to the combo, like heart Nico Sturm, and wingers Oskar Lindblom, Luke Kunin, and Steven Lorentz. All of these gamers ought to assist the Sharks turn into a tougher staff to play in opposition to.
However Eklund’s ability set would seem like one thing the Sharks might desperately use.
Whereas Lindblom may very well be used as a top-six ahead to start out the season, maybe alongside Logan Couture, the Sharks don’t actually have an apparent candidate to be the second winger on that potential line.
Kevin Labanc might doubtlessly fill these footwear, however that’s no assure, and for the report, the left-shot Eklund made certain to say earlier Friday that he can play proper wing as properly.
So whereas Grier and Sharks coach David Quinn each don't wish to give NHL jobs to gamers who aren’t prepared, Eklund, who received’t flip 20 till Oct. 12, may be capable of pressure the difficulty.
He had 4 assists in 9 video games for the Sharks final season earlier than he was returned to Djurgarden of the Swedish Hockey League.
“Final yr, I didn’t know what to anticipate. This yr, I do know extra what to anticipate,” Eklund mentioned. “I simply tried to study from one of the best gamers … see what they’re doing. And clearly, I wish to make the staff.”
One of many the explanation why the Sharks despatched a crestfallen Eklund again to Sweden was due to their concern that his 5-foot-10, 176-pound body wasn’t prepared for the bodily toll of an 82-game season.
Eklund, although, has added some muscle and one other dimension to his sport, saying he needs to get to the online extra.
“Clearly, I didn’t rating whereas I used to be right here final yr, and this yr, I don’t wish to be only a pass-first man,” Eklund mentioned. “I wish to be in these (arduous) areas, too.”
“I believed his shot regarded higher when he got here again this yr,” Barracuda coach John McCarthy mentioned of Eklund. “I do know he labored on it lots over the summer season, so he positively obtained the message there. I believed his launch was faster and he’s obtained a bit extra velocity on the puck.”
Eklund and different Sharks gamers on entry-level contracts should not have a variety of time to impress the staff’s brass as soon as camp begins. San Jose’s first preseason sport is Sept. 25, which is adopted by video games on the twenty seventh, twenty eighth, and thirtieth.
The Sharks then depart for Europe on Oct. 1, taking as much as 27 gamers, for an exhibition sport in Berlin on Oct. 4. The common season begins Oct. 7 in opposition to the Nashville Predators.
“You wish to be prepared,” Eklund mentioned. “I do know the sensation of being despatched again final yr, and I don’t wish to have that feeling once more.”