Ottawa’s young gun William Eklund is officially sidelined for an “extended” period with an ankle injury, and man, that’s a tough blow for the Senators early in the season. It just happened, and it definitely feels like a gut punch for a team that’s trying to build momentum.
The Hit That Hurts
Eklund took a nasty hit from Philadelphia defenseman Simon Benoit during Thursday night’s 2-1 win against the Flyers. He had to leave the game, and now we know why: an ankle injury that’s gonna keep him off the ice for a while. Coach Travis Green confirmed it Friday, saying Eklund is out for an “extended” time. Thankfully, no surgery is needed, and they expect the 23-year-old Swede back this season. Eklund was just getting started, too, picking up a goal and an assist in his first four games. This kid was a big get for Ottawa in June, acquired in a package that sent the ninth pick in the 2026 NHL draft to San Jose. Losing that kind of fresh talent, especially one you traded a high pick for, stings.
Coach Green’s Game Plan
Even with Eklund out, Coach Green isn’t really talking about who’s missing. He’s all about focusing on the guys who *are* playing and keeping the team locked in. “We don’t really talk about the guys who are out,” Green said. “We worry about our own game. The guys who are playing. I think we’re more than capable of winning games if we’ve got some players injured. We’ve done it before. It’s as simple as that.” The Senators are off to a solid 3-1-0 start, so maybe Green’s got a point about their depth. Plus, there’s some good news on the blue line: defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub are expected back with the team in the next few days.
It’s a hard hit to lose a promising young talent like Eklund this early. Green’s message is loud and clear: Next man up. Can this 3-1-0 Senators squad keep rolling without their early-season contributor? We’re gonna find out how deep this team truly is.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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