You never truly know what General Manager Steve Staios has up his sleeve. The only guarantee was that the Ottawa Senators would be using the 9th overall pick they received in the Brady Tkachuk trade as a trade chip. The Senators traded the 9th overall pick to the San Jose Sharks for 23-year-old William Eklund and prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.
Goals Above Replacement, last two seasons.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) June 23, 2026
William Eklund +22.7
Brady Tkachuk +18.5
Ottawa's just a buyer guys. Improving the team this summer.
Eklund’s goal-scoring leaves something to be desired, but that has the potential to improve while playing with an elite playmaker. Despite being 5'11", Eklund does not play to his size. He is hard-nosed, tough to play against, and brings a relentless work ethic. He is strong along the boards, reliable defensively, and competes hard—qualities the Senators value highly.
William Eklund has a lot of two-way promise. Shares traits with players like Elias Lindholm, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Brandon Hagel as best-case scenarios. If Ottawa can get any version of that, it would definitely give the top-six a nice boost. pic.twitter.com/HpJwkmAfpK
— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) June 23, 2026
Eklund is also signed to a very reasonable contract with a $5.6 million cap hit for the next three years and will still be a restricted free agent at the end of the deal. A fun added bonus is that Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund are best friends, and this move could provide a fresh start for Zetterlund as well. If Zetterlund can contribute more goals offensively, it would go a long way toward improving the Senators' depth scoring.
Circling back on this one for the @Senators! 🤯🤯🤯
— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2026
How do you like that from your newest addition, William Eklund? pic.twitter.com/ompDfg07vx
The other pieces in the deal are not merely throw-ins, either. Kasper Halttunen, selected in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, is a 21-year-old forward from Finland who just completed his rookie season in the AHL with 16 goals and 19 assists. His 6'4" frame, combined with his skill and goal-scoring ability, gives him the potential to develop into a strong power forward.
Brandon Svoboda is heading into his third season at Boston University and will look to build on his 15-point campaign. He is a 6'3" forward who forechecks hard, drives to the net, and battles in the corners—traits that align perfectly with what the Senators look for in a player.
Overall, the Senators acquire two young prospects, with Halttunen immediately becoming one of the top prospects in Ottawa’s pipeline. The biggest addition, however, is a young forward bursting with potential in William Eklund. The Brady Tkachuk trade tree has already expanded in a significant way.
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