William Eklund has been everything the Sharks hoped he'd be in training camp after they selected him No. 7 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. His ability to rack up points through the Sharks' preseason slate could "force" the team's hand and put the 18-year-old on the active NHL roster to start the 2021-22 season.
Sharks captain Logan Couture spoke to the media Thursday, and mentioned an NHL star in praising Eklund's ability to avoid big hits, per San Jose Hockey Now's Sheng Peng.
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Eklund's five points through four preseason contests is two more than any of his fellow teammates, as the teenager has played well above his age.
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Patrick Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks' star winger, is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and was the first American-born player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player. His durability throughout his career has been one of Kane's calling cards, as the veteran has missed only one regular-season game in the last six years.
Hopefully the Sharks can have Eklund on the ice as soon as possible, and they'd certainly love the rookie to be anything close to as durable as Kane.