It’s protected to say, there weren’t many eyes on the San Jose Sharks in the course of the 2023-24 season. They struggled closely as a staff, however regardless of these struggles, a few gamers had phenomenal particular person seasons. A type of gamers is the seventh-overall decide from the 2021 NHL Draft, William Eklund. The 2024-25 season could possibly be the one which elevates him to a family title across the NHL.
Eyes on San Jose
The additions of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith to the Sharks’ ahead core will make them a way more thrilling staff to look at this coming season. Followers of groups exterior of the Pacific Division now have a purpose to tune into Sharks video games for the primary time in fairly some time. On a person stage, extra eyes means a much bigger alternative to get observed.
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For Eklund, this implies he has a a lot larger viewers in comparison with the 2023-24 season. Consequently, if he continues growing on the similar price we’ve seen from him thus far in his profession, he might turn out to be a well-respected title across the NHL in a short time. Sharks followers know the way good he’s, and it’s no shock that he’s turn out to be one of many staff’s hottest gamers among the many followers. He could also be quiet in entrance of the microphone, however his character nonetheless finds a solution to shine by.
A Robust Debut Season
A majority of the hype across the NHL’s rookie class was centered on Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks final season, and rightfully so. Eklund wasn’t eligible for the Calder Trophy as a result of he performed 17 video games complete over the course of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Consequently, he wasn’t talked about as a lot in his first full NHL season. That doesn’t imply he was struggling although; he actually got here into his personal on the finish of the season alongside Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund. In 80 video games, Eklund scored 16 objectives and put 45 factors that are very respectable numbers for a primary full season. Now with a wider group of spectators, he has the prospect to take a fair larger step ahead. 60 or extra factors will certainly be doable.
Stronger Supporting Forged
Except you’re speaking about one of many league’s high superstars, a participant within the NHL is mostly solely pretty much as good as these alongside him enable. A incredible participant surrounded by American Hockey League-caliber expertise gained’t be as robust as he would if he have been with NHL-caliber gamers. The Sharks added each Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg who’re nice offensive gamers in two very alternative ways.
Relying on who head coach Ryan Warsofsky determined to play Eklund with, it might both enhance his goal-scoring, help numbers, or doubtlessly each. Toffoli would rating objectives, permitting Eklund’s playmaking to shine by. In the meantime, Wennberg is a pass-first kind of middle who would arrange Eklund’s one-timer permitting him to place the puck behind the online at the next price. Suppose Warsofsky sticks with the “Lund Line” alongside Granlund and Zetterlund we noticed final season. In that case, their chemistry will proceed to develop and a full season with all of them enjoying collectively might result in large elevated level totals for all three of them.
With much more eyes on the Sharks group this season, Eklund is in prime place to have an enormous breakout and turn out to be a family title across the NHL. The group’s administration and training workers have finished every part to place him ready to succeed as nicely. Now, it’s on him to make the most of the chance.
