Sharks' William Eklund Becoming Trade Candidate This Summer

Many eyes around the NHL are on the San Jose Sharks and their second overall pick in next month's draft. We all know that they're desperate to land a top-flight defenseman this offseason, and there just happens to be one near the top of the draft. Chase Reid is a 6'2" mobile, puck-handing offensive defenseman who would be an excellent quarterback-type blueliner to team up with Sharks' superstar center Macklin Celebrini for many years to come.

However, while Reid is the top-rated blueliner in this draft class, he isn't generally regarded as the No. 2 pick. How will the Sharks navigate this dilemma?

Insider Jeff Marek appeared on the Sekeres & Price Show and proposed a stunning possibility.

If they keep the (#2) pick, I don't necessarily think they take a defenseman. But if they take a forward, I think they use one of their other young players, William Eklund might be the obvious one here, to go out and get a defenseman... Everybody knows what the San Jose Sharks need. They need blueline.

Eklund is an exciting young forward who was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old is considered a core piece of the Sharks' young forward corps, but as Marek posited, if the team absolutely must deal away one of their top-six forwards to find a legit d-man, Eklund probably has the most trade value of those that could potentially be traded (Celebrini & Will Smith are obviously untouchable).

Eklund posted 15 goals with 53 points this season, numbers that are in and around his marks for the previous two years as well.

He'll be starting a new three-year contract next season with a $5.6 million AAV.

There's no doubt that teams would be clamoring to land Eklund, and if they have a high-end defender to offer in return, the Sharks could go that route.