Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund will miss an extended period of time after sustaining an ankle injury during Thursday’s game, head coach Travis Green told reporters on Friday.
Eklund was injured in the first period of the Senators’ 2-1 victory over the Flyers after taking a hit from defenceman Simon Benoit while chasing the puck into the corner in the offensive zone.
The 23-year-old remained on the ice in pain and was attended to by the team’s training staff.
Eventually he left the ice with assistance from two teammates, unable to put pressure on his left leg.
When asked if Eklund required surgery to repair the injury, Green said, “I don’t know... I don’t think so.” Green did not have a timetable for Eklund’s return to the lineup.
The 5-foot-10 winger was acquired by the Senators from the Sharks in the off-season, along with prospects Brandon Svoboda and Kasper Halltunen in exchange for the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Eklund has appeared in all four regular season games for the Senators this season, his first with the team, and has a goal and an assist. He had 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games with the Sharks last season.
The Senators may also be getting reinforcements off the injured list in the form of forward Andre Burakovsky.
Burakovsky, 31, missed the team’s first four games of the season while out with an upper-body injury.
The two-time Stanley Cup winner was acquired in the off-season from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 draft.
Burakovsky registered 11 goals and 33 points in 75 games in Chicago last season.