William Eklund could be the first Sweden-born left wing to be the first selected at his position in the NHL Draft since the Colorado Avalanche chose left wing Gabriel Landeskog No. 2 in the 2011 NHL Draft.
The 18-year-old (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) played most of the season on a line with his good friend, New Jersey Devils forward prospect Alexander Holtz, with Djurgarden of the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional league in the country.
“I can see a bit of (former NHL forward) Henrik Zetterberg in him but also a bit of (Nashville Predators forward) Filip Forsberg with his way of getting those pucks to the net,” Djurgarden CEO Thomas Kraft said of Eklund. “He can create intelligent plays on the rush, cover the puck tight along the boards and is very effective on the cycle.
“He has that unique ability to make a difference and win games, which obviously is a great asset for a player his, or any age, for that matter.”
Here are NHL.com’s top 10 left wings available for the 2021 NHL Draft:
1. William Eklund, Djurgarden (SWE)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 1 (International skaters)
Eklund has good speed, puck skills and vision. He scored 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists), including two power-play goals and three game-winning goals, and had 63 shots on goal while averaging 15:29 of ice time in 40 games, and was named SHL rookie of the year. He excelled while overcame significant adversity this season, including an emergency appendectomy and a positive COVID-19 test.
2. Brennan Othmann, Flint (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 8 (North American skaters)
With the Ontario Hockey League not playing this season due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, Othmann (6-0, 175) played on loan with Olten in the Swiss League, the second-highest professional league in Switzerland. The 18-year-old scored 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 34 games playing with and against experienced professionals, and also showed a willingness to block shots and make the game tough on opponents. He scored six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games to help Canada win the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. He scored a goal and took seven shots on goal in a 5-3 win against Russia in the championship game.
3. Zachary L’Heureux, Halifax (QMJHL)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 30 (North American skaters)
L’Heureux (5-11, 196) may have the best hands of any draft-eligible prospect in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, according to J-F Damphousse of NHL Central Scouting. The 18-year-old was second on Halifax with 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) and 130 shots on goal in 33 games. He’s at his best when playing physical and driving to the net.
NHL Central Scouting: No. 29 (North American skaters)
Duke (5-10, 175) is relentless on the forecheck and will hunt pucks down to create offense off pressure. The 18-year-old was second on the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 29 goals and 49 points in 50 games, tying for first with nine power-play goals and four game-winning goals. He scored three goals in five games for the United States at the U-18s.
5. William Stromgren, Modo (SWE-2)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 14 (International skaters)
Stromgren (6-3, 175) scored five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games for third-place Sweden at the U-18 World Championship. The 18-year-old, who possesses good speed and mobility, started the season with Modo’s Under-20 team, scoring 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 14 games. He scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in 27 games with Modo in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division.
6. Aleksandr Kisakov, Dynamo Moscow 2 (RUS-JR)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 7 (International skaters)
Kisakov (5-10, 150) loves to get involved where the action is, according to Goran Stubb, European director of Central Scouting. The 18-year-old was second in the MHL, Russia’s junior league, with 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 61 games, and scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 14 playoff games to help Dynamo Moscow win the MHL championship. He plays bigger than his frame, will go to key areas to retrieve pucks and can play both left and right wing.
7. Prokhor Poltapov, CSKA 2 (RUS-JR)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 18 (International skaters)
Poltapov (6-0, 176) has a great motor and excellent offensive instincts, and uses his skating speed and hockey sense on every shift, according to Stubb. The 18-year-old led his team with 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 61 games in Russia’s junior league, and played well enough to make his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League, playing one game with CSKA.
8. Conner Roulette, Seattle (WHL)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 36 (North American skaters)
Roulette (5-11, 180) is a goal-scorer with game-breaking ability, according to Central Scouting’s John Williams. The 18-year-old found ways to produce in a secondary role for Canada at the U-18s, scoring five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games. Roulette also scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 11 Western Hockey League games.
9. Ayrton Martino, Omaha (USHL)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 46 (North American skaters)
Martino (5-11, 160) led United States Hockey League rookies with 56 points (18 goals, 38 assists) in 38 games, his average of 1.47 points per game was fifth among all USHL players, and he scored 20 power-play points (four goals, 16 assists) and three shorthanded points (two goals, one assist). The 18-year-old is an outstanding playmaker who has shown quickness in all areas. He is committed to play at Clarkson University next season.
10. Ville Koivunen, Karpat Jr. (FIN-JR)
NHL Central Scouting: No. 20 (International skaters)
Koivunen (5-11, 161), who reads the game well and has showcased good puck control in tight situations, scored 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 38 games and was named rookie of the year in Finland’s junior league. He finished second in scoring for fourth-place Finland with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games at the U-18s.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
