Eighteen-year-old Swedish winger Victor Eklund has inked a three-year entry-level deal with the New York Islanders, the team that selected him 16th overall in the recent NHL draft, as announced on Monday. However, Eklund might return to his longtime club Djurgården, based in Stockholm, where he has played since he was a child, similar to his teammate Anton Frontell.
Last season, Eklund tallied 31 points across 42 games in Hockeyallsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional hockey league. During the playoffs, he added seven points in 16 games, helping Djurgården secure promotion to the top league, the SHL. When asked in October about his plans for the upcoming season, Eklund said, “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to anyone. I’m with Djurgården now and hope we make it to the SHL.”
Meanwhile, Swedish journalist Gunnar Nordström reported that Swedish center Anton Frontell is expected to sign an entry-level contract this week with the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked him third overall in the same draft. Although media sources say Frontell will sign with Chicago soon, he won’t take part in the team’s training camp this September—suggesting Eklund might follow a similar route.
Alongside Eklund and Frontell, Djurgården’s roster next season will feature Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, and Swedish goaltender Magnus Magnus (note: the text appears to have a repeated name here, likely an error).
Victor Eklund is off to a strong start in his draft year, boasting seven goals and four assists in 13 Hockeyallsvenskan games. He notably scored a hat trick last Friday in a thrilling 7-6 shootout win against Bjorkloven.
Fan Take: This signing highlights the growing trend of talented European players staying in their home leagues to develop before making the jump to the NHL. For hockey fans, it’s exciting to watch these young stars mature, as they bring fresh energy and international styles that enrich the game worldwide.
