Islanders, first-round pick Victor Eklund agree to deal
Victor Eklund practices during the Islanders summer prospect development camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on June 30 in East Meadow. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
First-rounder Victor Eklund has a contract in place for whenever he and the Islanders decide it’s the right season for him to come to North America.
The Islanders on Monday announced Eklund, a Swedish wing who was the 16th overall pick in last month’s NHL Draft, had agreed to a three-year, entry-level deal. The contract’s total value is $2.93 million, per PuckPedia.com, with salary cap charge of $975,000.
The contract does not go into effect until Eklund, who turns 19 on Oct. 3, joins the Islanders’ organization. Eklund said both before and after being drafted he expected to play to play one more season for his Swedish team, Djurgardens.
However, Eklund, the younger brother of Sharks forward William Eklund, is eligible to play for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport this season.
The left-shooting, 5-11, 170-pound Eklund notched 19 goals and 12 assists in 42 games for Djurgardens last season, playing on a line with Anton Frondell, who was selected third overall by Chicago.
Eklund, who had been widely projected to go higher than No. 16, had the most points (31) by an 18-year-old in Sweden’s second division since Elias Pettersson in 2016-17.
Eklund was part of a nine-player draft class, including three first-rounders, that marked Mathieu Darche’s first as the Islanders general manager. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer was selected first overall and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson was selected at No. 17. The Islanders obtained the Nos. 16 and 17 picks from the Canadiens as part of the return for defenseman Noah Dobson.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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