The Ottawa Senators may have found their new top line. Unless general manager Steve Staios makes a major trade or free-agent splash, newly acquired forward William Eklund is projected to start training camp as the No. 1 left winger alongside Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson.
Eklund's Fit with Stutzle and Batherson
Eklund, 23, was acquired from the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. He is a smooth, agile skater with good speed, hands, and playmaking ability. "Obviously, (he's) a great player," Eklund said of Stutzle during an introductory Zoom call. "He's been a great player in this league for a while now. If you get that opportunity, just do the best you can with it."
The line lacks size — Eklund is 5-foot-10, 185 pounds; Stutzle 6-foot, 187; Batherson 6-foot-3, 209 — but the Carolina Hurricanes' playoff success showed tenacity trumps frame. Their second line of Jackson Blake (5-11, 185), Logan Stankoven (5-8, 165), and Taylor Hall (6-1, 210) was dominant through four series with relentless puck pursuit.
Goal-Scoring Concerns
The Senators need scoring after managing only five goals against the Hurricanes in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Captain Brady Tkachuk, who scored 30-plus goals each of the past five seasons, left the team. Eklund has a career-high 17 goals, set in 2024-25, and scored just 15 last season. His 8.5 shooting percentage was low, possibly due to a wrist injury sustained at the 2025 world championship.
"Obviously, when you have to rehab for three months and then get ready in one month, it's a little different off-season compared to this one. But, you know, it didn't affect my game, I would say," Eklund said. "Compared to this year, I'm fully healthy, nothing is bugging me. I just feel like (there's) a better chance for me to get ready the way I want to."
Eklund acknowledged his shooting needs work. "For me, myself, it's always been my shot," he said. "That's something I need to improve, and that's something I'm working on every day."
Potential for a Lethal Line
Stutzle, Eklund, and Batherson have the tools to become a threatening line. Eklund is slippery along the walls, fearless in front of the net, and has a great motor. However, someone must shoot the puck. Coach Travis Green will have the final say on line combinations.
