William Eklund exits Senators game with a leg injury
- Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund suffered a leg injury during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, leaving him unable to put weight on his leg as teammates helped...
- Ottawa training staff attended to the forward before teammates carried him off the surface.
- The loss of Eklund compounds an already mounting injury crisis for the Senators.
Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund suffered a leg injury during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, leaving him unable to put weight on his leg as teammates helped him off the ice. The incident occurred early in the first period when Eklund was hit along the boards by Flyers defenseman Simon Benoit.
William Eklund Exits Game Against Flyers After Board Hit
The play happened in the opening minutes of the matchup. Ottawa training staff attended to the forward before teammates carried him off the surface. He could not put any weight on his leg and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Ottawa Roster Stretches Thin Amid Multiple Injuries
The loss of Eklund compounds an already mounting injury crisis for the Senators. The team entered the contest missing several regular contributors, including defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub. Earlier in the week, goaltender Linus Ullmark departed a Monday game and missed Tuesday’s skate before returning to active status for Thursday’s game. Eklund now joins a growing list of sidelined players in Ottawa.
Ottawa Trades First-Round Pick for Eklund
Ottawa acquired Eklund in late June 2026 alongside forwards Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda in a trade with the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a first-round draft pick. San Jose originally drafted Eklund seventh overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. After making his rookie debut, he split time in 2022-23 with the AHL and the NHL before a shoulder injury cut his season short. He established himself as a full-time NHL regular with the Sharks in 2023-24, recording 16 goals and 49 points across 80 games, followed by 17 goals and 58 points the next season. In July 2025, he signed a three-year contract extension and went on to produce 15 goals and 53 points through 78 games during the 2025-26 campaign despite missing time with a lower-body injury.
Senators Await Medical Update on Eklund Recovery Timeline
The Senators have not yet released an official medical bulletin detailing the exact nature of the leg injury or an estimated recovery timeline. Team officials are expected to evaluate Eklund further following the conclusion of Thursday’s game in Philadelphia.