Toronto — The person who might have been most surprised to discover Victor Eklund made the Islanders’ roster after training camp was probably Eklund himself. Despite the public knowledge of his spot on the team, he didn’t let the achievement sink in or boost his confidence prematurely.
When he was informed he’d be part of the Islanders’ lineup for their season opener here in Toronto—a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs—Eklund felt the full impact of reaching such a milestone.
“It was kind of a shock,” Eklund admitted to The Post. “I just focused on playing my best every day. I didn’t feel like I was ever truly safe.” Ironically, just before that conversation, General Manager Mathieu Darche had described the decision to include Eklund as an obvious choice.
Though he entered camp as a long-shot, his performance and the injury to Mat Barzal made his inclusion clear by the end. Eklund skated for 11 minutes and 38 seconds in his first significant NHL appearance—his first game in the league came in a meaningless end-of-season match last year—and was immediately thrown into action against Toronto’s top line of Auston Matthews, Kirill Marchenko, and Jack Roslovic.
It took him a while to settle into the game, and he was eventually benched for the last 7 minutes and 34 seconds as head coach Pete DeBoer shortened his lineup. Still, DeBoer praised Eklund’s progress, saying, “He got better as the game went on… He had a couple of chances to score, and I had no problem with his performance at all.”
Regarding Barzal’s recovery, general manager Darche noted the player has made significant progress and is expected to resume skating early next week. While initial plans suggested Barzal would begin skating sooner, the timeline was slightly adjusted, but optimism remains high. Once he starts skating, the focus will shift to ensuring his knee is free of inflammation before moving forward with his rehab.
Additionally, it was confirmed that Nick Leopard, a Long Island resident and CEO of AI-focused financial firm Accordion, is the lead investor in the group that purchased a 15% stake in the Islanders. This deal has received NHL approval, along with the earlier announced investment from David Shuman.
Fan Take: This story highlights how young talent like Eklund can unexpectedly seize opportunities and make an immediate impact, exciting fans and adding fresh energy to the game. It also underscores how injuries and strategic decisions can open doors for emerging players, shaping the future of NHL teams and the sport itself.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
