Improving Sharks Will Miss Key Forward Against Kraken
San Jose forward William Eklund will sit out his second consecutive game as the Sharks face the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday at Climate Pledge Arena. The team hopes to extend its current four-game point streak against the Pacific Division leaders.
Eklund, tied for second on the Sharks with 11 points, did not travel with the team to Seattle due to a lower-body injury. The same issue kept him sidelined during Sunday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Coach Provides Update
Ryan Warsofsky said Eklund, who has been dealing with the injury for over a week, is considered day-to-day but is “trending in the right direction.”
The coach added that it remains uncertain whether Eklund will be placed on injured reserve, as the Sharks have upcoming home games against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Strong Recent Performance
Before the setback, Eklund—age 23—was enjoying one of the most productive stretches of his NHL career, registering four goals and five assists between October 23 and 30. Alongside Alexander Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev, he formed San Jose’s most consistent line, contributing both offensively and defensively.
In the Sharks’ 3-2 overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, Eklund logged nearly 21 minutes of ice time, further underscoring his value to the team.
Author’s Summary
Eklund’s injury comes during his best run of form this season, leaving the Sharks to face division-leading Seattle without one of their top contributors.