It’s secure to say, there weren’t many eyes on the San Jose Sharks through the 2023-24 season. They struggled closely as a staff, however regardless of these struggles, a few gamers had phenomenal particular person seasons. A type of gamers is the seventh-overall choose from the 2021 NHL Draft, William Eklund. The 2024-25 season may very well be the one which elevates him to a family identify across the NHL.
Eyes on San Jose
The additions of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith to the Sharks’ ahead core will make them a way more thrilling staff to look at this coming season. Followers of groups outdoors of the Pacific Division now have a motive to tune into Sharks video games for the primary time in fairly some time. On a person degree, extra eyes means an even bigger alternative to get seen.
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For Eklund, this implies he has a a lot greater viewers in comparison with the 2023-24 season. Consequently, if he continues creating on the similar price we’ve seen from him up to now in his profession, he may grow to be a well-respected identify across the NHL in a short time. Sharks followers understand how good he’s, and it’s no shock that he’s grow to be one of many staff’s hottest gamers among the many followers. He could also be quiet in entrance of the microphone, however his character nonetheless finds a technique to shine via.
A Sturdy Debut Season
A majority of the hype across the NHL’s rookie class was centered on Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks final season, and rightfully so. Eklund wasn’t eligible for the Calder Trophy as a result of he performed 17 video games complete over the course of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Consequently, he wasn’t talked about as a lot in his first full NHL season. That doesn’t imply he was struggling although; he actually got here into his personal on the finish of the season alongside Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund. In 80 video games, Eklund scored 16 objectives and put 45 factors that are very respectable numbers for a primary full season. Now with a wider group of spectators, he has the possibility to take an excellent greater step ahead. 60 or extra factors will certainly be doable.
Stronger Supporting Solid
Except you’re speaking about one of many league’s prime superstars, a participant within the NHL is mostly solely nearly as good as these alongside him enable. A improbable participant surrounded by American Hockey League-caliber expertise gained’t be as sturdy as he would if he have been with NHL-caliber gamers. The Sharks added each Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg who’re nice offensive gamers in two very other ways.
Relying on who head coach Ryan Warsofsky determined to play Eklund with, it will both enhance his goal-scoring, help numbers, or probably each. Toffoli would rating objectives, permitting Eklund’s playmaking to shine via. In the meantime, Wennberg is a pass-first sort of middle who would arrange Eklund’s one-timer permitting him to place the puck at the back of the online at the next price. Suppose Warsofsky sticks with the “Lund Line” alongside Granlund and Zetterlund we noticed final season. In that case, their chemistry will proceed to develop and a full season with all of them taking part in collectively may result in large elevated level totals for all three of them.
With much more eyes on the Sharks group this season, Eklund is in prime place to have a large breakout and grow to be a family identify across the NHL. The group’s administration and training workers have performed every little thing to place him able to succeed as nicely. Now, it’s on him to reap the benefits of the chance.