San Jose Sharks first-round draft pick earns early birthday present with NHL roster spot

SAN JOSE – William Eklund was determined to make the San Jose Sharks roster out of training camp this year, even though he was only about six months removed from having surgery to repair a torn labrum on his left shoulder.

After an impressive training camp in which he improved with each passing day, Eklund reached his goal, as the Swedish-born forward on Monday was named a part of the Sharks’ 23-man opening night roster.

“It means a lot. I worked (hard) for this,” Eklund said. “Now my job is to be here all year. So my focus is on that.”

It just so happens that the Sharks’ season-opening game on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights also falls on Eklund’s 21st birthday. He said his parents will likely be in attendance for the game at SAP Center.

“It’s my birthday and it’s opening night,” Eklund said. “So, it’s a good day.”

NHL teams had to reduce their active rosters to 23 players or less by 2 p.m. (PDT), and besides Eklund, Henry Thrun, and center Thomas Bordeleau will also be with the team for the start of the season.

Sharks captain Logan Couture, fellow forward Mitchell Russell, and defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk are all considered injured non-roster players.

Defenseman Jacob MacDonald and Radim Simek will start the season on injured reserve, creating roster availabilities for other players. When those players are available to play, it could mean that Thrun and Bordeleau will be assigned to the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate.

For now, though, the Sharks will start the season with three players on entry-level contracts. Last year, after they opened the season with two games in Europe, the Sharks didn’t have any such players.

Eklund had shoulder surgery on March 30 after he was injured in a Barracuda game eight days earlier against Colorado. He came back to San Jose this summer determined to start the season in the NHL. Last season, after he and Bordeleau went to Europe and watched the Sharks play two regular-season games against the Nashville Predators in Prague, they were returned to the Barracuda.

Eklund, though, didn’t give the Sharks a chance to do the same thing this year. He had a goal and two assists in four preseason games and was noticeable just about every time he was ice. He also killed penalties and seemed to form some chemistry with Luke Kunin and Mikael Granlund in the Sharks’ final preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings last Thursday.

“Coming off an injury, I knew it would be tough sometimes, mentally and stuff, and how I would go into (camp), not having the normal offseason I’m used to,” Eklund said. “For me to get in here and get better and better every day, I think that’s it’s huge for me, because I feel like every game went better and better and my confidence went up more and more.

“The last game, I thought I played my best game, so that’s a good thing.”

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