Sharks Forward Poised For Offensive Surge In 24-25

San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund should see a boost in his offensive production this season.

San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund should see a boost in his offensive production this season.

In his first complete season in the NHL, the 2021 7th-overall pick scored 16 goals and 29 assists in 80 games. During the season, Eklund was shifted from wing to center and eventually back to the wing, but once he found some direction, his offense became more consistent. 

The Swede showed elite skill to score on the powerplay as half of his 16 goals came on the man advantage. He scored with his one-timer often.

Eklund had points in 12 of the Shark's final 13 home games of the season. The 'Lund' line, which included Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund, and Mikael Granlund, was the Sharks' best line once they were put together. Granlund led the team in scoring, which helped Eklund add to his offensive numbers at the end of the season.

Coming into the 2024-25 season, the San Jose Sharks made many improvements to the forward core. With Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith now in the fold, Eklund won't be relied upon to face the top matchups every game. While Eklund succeeded in doing that, giving opponents other players to think about should free up more space and advantageous matchups for Eklund. 

The other aspect that can help Eklund's offense get to the next level is the signings of legit NHL talents. With Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg in San Jose, Eklund can pass to someone else not named Fabian Zetterlund, who can score a goal. Eklund made a lot of great plays with his passing but often was let down by the Sharks' inability to covert quality chances.

The Sharks' offense will improve, with Smith, Celebrini, and Toffoli joining the top six. It could be even better if Logan Couture is healthy, giving San Jose another quality offensive player in its lineup. If Zetterlund can continue his growth as an NHL goalscorer, that should provide Eklund more than enough chances to surpass his 45-point career-high.

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