Eklund out 'extended' period of time for Senators with ankle injury
Forward expected to return during regular season after leaving win against Flyers
By NHL.com
William Eklund is expected to be out an "extended" period of time for the Ottawa Senators because of an ankle injury, Senators coach Travis Green said Friday.
"I don't know exactly how long," Green said regarding the timeline. He did say he does not believe Eklund will need surgery and expects the 23-year-old forward to return sometime during the regular season.
Eklund left during the first period of a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday after being hit awkwardly into the boards by Flyers defenseman Simon Benoit. Eklund was unable to put weight on his left leg as he headed down the tunnel and did not return.
Eklund has two points (one goal, one assist) in four games this season. Selected by the San Jose Sharks with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, he has 165 points (51 goals, 114 assists) in 256 regular-season games with the Sharks and Senators, including three straight seasons with at least 15 goals and 45 points.
Eklund came to Ottawa in a trade with San Jose on June 23. He was acquired with forward Kasper Halttunen and the rights to forward prospect Brandon Svoboda for the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which the Senators acquired from the Florida Panthers in the trade for forward Brady Tkachuk on June 21.
Forward Andre Burakovsky and defenseman Kurtis MacDermid, each dealing with an upper-body injury, participated in an optional practice Friday.
Green said Burakovsky is close to returning and could play against the Nashville Predators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS-D, SCRIPPS). Defensemen Jake Sanderson (undisclosed) and Artem Zub (knee) each is expected to join the team in the next few days, Green said, but neither has a firm return date.
NHL.com independent correspondent Zoe Pierce contributed to this report
