- Victor Eklund has a real shot at opening 2026-27 on the Islanders’ NHL roster
- The 2025 first-rounder picked up his first NHL point on Bo Horvat’s 300th career goal
- Read below for what the young Swede brings to Long Island this season
Victor Eklund may not spend long in the minors.
The Islanders’ 2025 first-round pick has a real chance to open the 2026-27 season on Long Island, per Pro Hockey Rumors. Stefen Rosner of The Elmonters figures Eklund was NHL ready the moment he came over from Sweden last spring, and the 19-year-old winger should get a long look at a top-six job in training camp.
Eklund already got a taste in April. He made his NHL debut in the season finale against Carolina and grabbed his first career point, a secondary assist on Bo Horvat’s 300th goal. His parents flew in from Sweden to watch it happen.
Here’s the moment Eklund got on the board:
Horvat could have kept the milestone puck. He handed it to the rookie instead. Horvat explained the gesture after the game:
The production was there long before he reached the NHL. Eklund put up 24 points in 43 games for Djurgardens IF in the SHL last season, then chipped in 10 points once he came over to the AHL.
He is the younger brother of Sharks winger William Eklund, and he already carried himself like a pro at Islanders development camp in June. Take a look at Eklund on the jump to North America:
The path is open. New York missed the playoffs last season and leaned hard into its youth movement, turning things over to Peter DeBoer and building around a young core headlined by 2025 No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer. Eklund wants his name next on that list.
