NHL Why Sharks might regret William Eklund decision, demoting top prospect
Why Sharks might regret decision to send Eklund down originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Editor's Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
William Eklund is what, like, the fourth-best forward on the Sharks right now?
Timo Meier has been traded. Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl are atop a teetering pyramid. Probably Alexander Barabanov, too.
After that? Eklund certainly has a case for No. 4.
So why did the Sharks send him down?
A couple things make sense to me, both of which the Sharks probably will be loath to admit.
Some background: Last year, when Eklund started the season with the Sharks, I advocated keeping him instead of sending him back to Sweden after nine games.
RELATED: Sharks top prospect Eklund breaks down first career goal
About seven pounds lighter, Eklund was surviving in the NHL on his guile. That’s the right word – he was surviving, not thriving.
But he also, mainly because of his hockey brain and shifty skating, was a legitimate top-nine forward on a Sharks squad that started the season 6-3-0.
