Sharks Trade Eklund for Top Draft Pick

Sharks shock fans by trading rising star William Eklund — a seventh-overall pick — for just the ninth overall draft pick in 2026, along with prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda. The move, seen as risky given Eklund’s scoring potential, signals GM Mike Grier’s bold push to rebuild the defense. With thin blue-line depth and eyes on top-tier defensemen like Byram, Hronek, or Werenski, the Sharks now hold a premium asset that could unlock a blockbuster deal or shape the future with a top-tier draft pick. Eklund’s stalled development and the emergence of Ivar Stenberg may have made him expendable — but this trade could be the foundation of a playoff push. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b63d90f16e522ca7