On Monday, the New York Islanders revealed they had signed Victor Ekland, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 draft, to a three-year entry-level contract.
According to a tweet by Stefen Rosner, the Islanders confirmed the signing of Ekland to this contract. However, this deal does not imply that Ekland will be playing in North America this upcoming season. He has already returned to Sweden, and being only 18 years old, he is ineligible to play for the Bridgeport team in the American Hockey League.
Instead, Ekland will spend the 2025-26 season competing in the Swedish elite league with Djurgardens, after posting an impressive 31 points last season, which included 19 goals and 12 assists across 42 games.
So, why did the Islanders sign Ekland to his entry-level contract if he isn’t coming over immediately? Because for players aged 18 or 19 who have not played at least 10 NHL games, the contract does not officially start counting down yet, meaning the Islanders have effectively “paused” his contract, known as a slide.
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Photo credit: Kirby Lee – Imagn Image
Fan Take: This signing is a smart move by the Islanders as it secures a promising young talent for the future without rushing his development. Hockey fans should keep an eye on Ekland’s progress overseas because he could be a key player for the Islanders in the coming years, potentially shaping the team’s success on the ice.
