The San Jose Sharks have announced the reassignment of forward Ethan Cardwell to the AHL San Jose in order to activate William Eklund, who is set to return to the lineup against the Minnesota Wild. Eklund’s activation comes after a brief stint on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury sustained on November 1 against the Avalanche. During his absence, the Sharks thrived, posting a record of 3-0-1.
Eklund, a promising talent in the Sharks’ rebuilding efforts, has been impressive in his third season in the NHL, recording five goals and six assists for a total of 11 points across 12 games. If he maintains his health, he is on track to exceed 70 points this season. Despite limited time on the ice with star rookie Macklin Celebrini, Eklund has effectively contributed as a key scorer on the Sharks’ second line, playing alongside Philipp Kurashev and Alexander Wennberg.
During Eklund’s recovery, Collin Graf took advantage of the opportunity, increasing his ice time and contributing two assists in four games while positioned next to Wennberg. Now, Graf is expected to return to a third-line role alongside Ty Dellandrea. The Sharks are aiming to continue their strong performance, seeking to extend their win streak to four games and their points streak to seven—a feat not accomplished since October 2021.
The return of Eklund is a significant boost for the Sharks as they look to maintain their momentum and possibly build on their recent success in what has been an uplifting stretch for the team.