The Ottawa Senators kick off their 2026-27 regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 3. After a busy offseason that saw them most notably trade away former captain Brady Tkachuk, the Senators will be aiming to prove their doubters wrong.
If the Senators hope to take another step in the right direction and make the playoffs for the third year in a row, they are going to need all of their top players to be on their A-game. This includes new forward William Eklund, as he is expected to be an important part of their forward group.
Eklund is coming off a strong 2025-26 season, as he posted 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games with the San Jose Sharks. This was after he had 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games for the Sharks during the 2024-25.
With numbers like these, Eklund has shown in recent seasons that he has the ability to produce solid offenive numbers. However, with the 2021 seventh-overall pick having a ton of potential and still in the early stages of his NHL career, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he has a big breakout year for the Senators this campaign.
The potential for Eklund to hit new numbers offensively is undoubtedly there. This is especially so when noting that he is still only 23 years old and only 252 games into his NHL career.
Furthermore, sometimes getting a fresh start can benefit players, and that could end up being the case for Eklund with the Senators. This is especially so when noting that he is expected to be given plenty of chances to succeed in Ottawa's top six.
If Eklund can take that next step offensively and become at least a 70-point player, it would be massive for a Senators team that is looking to be a legitimate threat this campaign. This is especially so when remembering that the Senators traded Tkachuk during the offseason and need to replace his offensive production.
Eklund is a major X-factor for the Senators this season
When looking at the Senators' current forward group, Eklund is a clear X-factor for this season. If he breaks out and blossoms into a legitimate star, it would undoubtedly help the Senators' chances of being among the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season.
Due to this, Eklund is going to be a player to watch incredibly closely throughout the season. It will be intriguing to see what kind of year he can have for the Atlantic Division club in 2026-27 from here.
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