It was only Monday afternoon, Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios said he had “no intention of this group taking a step back.”
And after sending Brady Tkachuk to Florida, Staios noted, “In the end, I feel like the Draft capital and the assets that we return opens the door for us to do for many possibilities.”
The Senators GM dipped into that Draft capital Tuesday, shipping his most valuable trade chip, the ninth overall pick in Friday’s Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward William Eklund, forward Kasper Halttunen and the rights to unsigned draft pick Brandon Svoboda.
What the Senators expect from Eklund
In a media release, Staios stated, “William is a dynamic and skilled forward, who plays with a competitive edge. We are excited to welcome him to the Senators organization and he will fit in well with our core group of players.”
While the acquisition of Eklund doesn’t replace Tkachuk in terms of goal production and physicality, the 23-year-old offers a skillset needed by the Senators, speed and creativity.
The past two seasons the Sharks 2021 seventh overall selection has earned 38 and 41 assists respectively. While Eklund was third on his club in shots on goal this past season (176), he tallied only 15 goals. Despite his minus-31 rating in 2025-26, Eklund is known for his capability to play in all three zones. His 51.3 Corsi mark at even strength was tops on the Sharks for any player who played a full season, yes, better than Macklin Celebrini (49.4).
The 5′ 10″, 185-pound left wing will certainly skate in the Senators top six and see time on the power play.
A bonus for Staios, the Swede will enter next season in the first of a three-year deal after signing a contract extension last July 1 which carries a $5.6 million average annual value.
https://hockeyhotstove.com/category/bloggers/murray-pam
In addition to Eklund, the Senators received a pair of intriguing prospects.
What could Halttunen add in Ottawa
Kasper Halttunen is a hulking right wing. At 6’3, 205 pounds, having turned 21 June 7, the Helsinki resident is known for his punishing body checks and powerful shot per Daily Faceoff prospect guru Steven Ellis.
This past season, Halttunen’s first as a pro, the Sharks 2023 36th overall pick notched 16 goals, 19 assists in 69 games for the AHL Barracuda.
But it’s his two previous campaigns with the OHL London Knights which are worth noting. Halttunen was a member of the Knights two championship teams in 2023-24 and 2024-25 of which he was a clutch playoff performer. Halttunnen scored an astonishing 32 goals in a combined 35 postseason games during those two runs.
If Brandon Svoboda’s name sounds familiar, the lanky 6’3″, 209-pound centre registered three goals, three assists for the United States at the 2025 World Juniors held in Ottawa.
A product of the Pittsburgh Penguins AAA minor hockey system, Svoboda was selected 71st overall by the Sharks in the 2023 Draft. Svoboda is known as being strong defensively and not shy to drive to the net. The 21-year-old will enter his third year at Boston University in September.
Home › Forums › Senators Make Quick Work of No. 9 Pick
Tagged: nhl, Ottawa Senators