NHL Draft profile: William Eklund

BlueJackets.com is running feature stories profiling the top nine players in our consensus poll for the upcoming NHL Draft, which is scheduled to begin Friday. Columbus will select fifth overall in the draft with the chance to add a high-level player -- likely from this group -- to the organization.
Sometimes, when a draft-eligible player is tearing up a league like the OHL, he can be described as a "man among boys."
It was the opposite this year for Swedish winger William Eklund, the No. 3-rated player in our consensus poll of the top prospects available in this week's NHL draft. Playing most of the season at age 18 in the Swedish Hockey League, the top league in his home country and one of the best in the world, Eklund was more like a boy among men.

Yet it's fair to say the highly touted prospect held his own, even while dealing with such unfortunate realities as a bout with the coronavirus and an appendectomy. Playing 40 games in the SHL with Djurgardens, Eklund posted 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points, the fifth highest output for a draft-eligible player in the league's history and enough to earn him the SHL's rookie of the year honor.
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It's natural for a player to get better as he moves up levels, and that's how it went for Eklund, who played 20 games with Djurgardens at age 17 in 2019-20 and had zero goals and two assists. It surely didn't hurt, though, that he got to see professional players on a daily basis and study how they prepare and play.
"The first year, you are seeing the professionals, how they work," said Eklund, who also is rated the No. 1 international skater available in the draft by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau. "Me coming from the junior team, you wanted to see how every best player acts and try to learn from them, but also fight for my spot. This year became more of also seeing those players and what they do good, but also take a place on the roster and try to beat t hose guys out also."
It's hard to imagine Eklund doing anything but playing against the best from here on out, as two years ago he was a dominant player on Djurgardens' U-20 team despite his youth, posting 12 goals and 36 points in 31 games.
That ability to put points on the board, earned through a combination of an excellent shot, great vision and impressive passing abilities, makes Eklund a prime target to be one of the first players off the board in the draft. He notes his favorite player to watch is Mathew Barzal, and it's not hard to see how Eklund could remind observers of the New York Islanders star.
Still, Eklund isn't resting on his laurels despite the high praise he's received thus far, including winning the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence from the NHL this summer, which is awarded to the candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.
"I think I have to improve on my shooting," Eklund said. "I think I have to get that shot faster and better in tight areas. I also have to get better at top speed. I think I move more like a quick player than fast, so that's two things I need to really improve."
Yet he's already thought to be one of the top players in the class and could very well be off the board when the Blue Jackets draft fifth overall. Wherever he ends up, though, Eklund sees himself as someone that will make a difference down the road.
"I want to be a top-six forward on a team," he said. "Maybe not the first year, but work myself into that spot. I think I'm a player who brings energy to the team who wants to be an offensive threat every time I touch the puck. I want to be a guy they can count on in different situations."

What they're saying

Draft Prospects Hockey draft guide:
"A skilled, offensively dynamic forward who thrives playing his off wing. Uses his excellent skating ability to skate himself open. ... His decision making and the ability to read plays and the speed at which he moves the puck with precision are outstanding. He works hard all over the ice, on the forecheck and even the back check. Heavy shot with the ability to fill the net from distance or to elevate it quickly bar down when in tight. Also has high-end ability to shoot the one timer while in motion. He has elite offensive IQ to make consistently smart offensive plays. An underrated passer and has strong vision."
HockeyProspect.com Black Book:
"William Eklund is a deceptive and dynamic playmaking winger who keeps a very good pace, while having arguably the best vision out of any draft eligible forward. … (Previously) there was a lot of experimentation found within his game and he was still trying to figure out exactly what he was capable of doing on any given shift. Fast forward to the first drop of the puck in the SHL this past season and Eklund immediately began showing his off season body of work, having transformed his game so that it could match the pro level. No longer was he over-handling the puck or making high risk plays in the wrong areas of the ice as often as he was previously, instead he showed that he was capable of making his linemates better, while still driving play from time to time, without being a liability off the puck."
Chris Peters, Hockey Sense:
"The maturity and poise it takes to be a top-line player as an 18-year-old professional is rare. It's why so many don't get the chance. Eklund earned it, however, and rewarded his club with solid performance after solid performance. In a class that lacks a ton of dynamic talent, Eklund has it. He's quick, smart and creative, making plays with pace and precision."