Sabres' Option: William Eklund

[LGR4GM]

The 5'10" Swede is crafty and skilled. He was better than Holtz according to most even though they played together and he is younger. Most likely projects to wing at the NHL level but has a well rounded 2-way game. He would be somewhat of a surprise pick considering the Sabres don't really have Euro scouts and that he isn't overly big (I think size does matter for this current mgmt group). He has a high motor and is a mastermind in the offensive zone. 

 

1) FC Hockey (note his skating is very good)

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/2021-nhl-draft-spotlight-william-eklund/

2) Last Word

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2021/04/06/william-eklund-scouting-report/

3) EP Rinkside (paid content, but I will post their video clips)

https://eprinkside.com/2021/02/17/why-william-eklund-is-the-no-1-ranked-prospect-on-the-eliteprospects-2021-nhl-draft-board

4) Draft Analyst

https://www.thedraftanalyst.com/2021-nhl-draft/2021-draft-profile-lw-william-eklund/

5) Scouching

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by LGR4GM

[pi2000]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[GASabresIUFAN]

Again nice player but not a need and not the BPA (whatever that is).

[Thorner]

33 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Again nice player but not a need and not the BPA (whatever that is).

BPA isn't some vague concept no matter how much people want to frame it as such. All it's referring to is a *specific team's* list, sorted by adjudged ability - it's not an attempt to form some sort of "best" consensus and adhering to it. It simply means taking the most talented player regardless of position. 

This is not a strategy I'd adhere to full stop, but there's no sense pretending it's vague. 

[That Aud Smell]

I can't get past the hockeybuzz association.

(E5)

[Stoner]

14 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I can't get past the hockeybuzz association.

(E5)

It had to be said.

[Thorner]

Ekholm, Ekblad, Eklund - doesn't matter: we aren't picking them

[Weave]

26 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I can't get past the hockeybuzz association.

(E5)

Came here for this.

Leaves satisfied.

[DarthEbriate]

Bounty hunter. Eklund flies a modified passenger shuttle with a savvy astromech droid and a whole lot of firepower. He sports a cape and a sneaky stun blaster in a wrist-mounted holster.

[Rasmus_]

I like him if we move down.  I only like Beniers or Power at #1.

[DarthEbriate]

20 minutes ago, TheCerebral1 said:

I like him if we move down.  I only like Beniers or Power at #1.

Definitely. He's going to go 4-7 and make a team really happy. Not the same position or style player, but I'm guessing he could surprise immediately in the Elias Pettersson manner.

[Randall Flagg]

He looks real good.

[Rasmus_]

10 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

He looks real good.

I like him a lot, I'd love to acquire picks if we move Eichel and get him somehow, but with KA in charge, we won't.  We have the WORST GENERAL MANAGER in the history of the organization.  A pacified yes man, who quoted the Pegula's as a gift to them.  What a joke.  

[Randall Flagg]

3 minutes ago, TheCerebral1 said:

I like him a lot, I'd love to acquire picks if we move Eichel and get him somehow, but with KA in charge, we won't.  We have the WORST GENERAL MANAGER in the history of the organization.  A pacified yes man, who quoted the Pegula's as a gift to them.  What a joke.  

He's got a lot of ground to cover to pass J*son B*tterill in the worst GM sweepstakes in my eyes.

[Rasmus_]

2 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

He's got a lot of ground to cover to pass J*son B*tterill in the worst GM sweepstakes in my eyes.

I agree, but he's a glorified puppet.  His thanking the Pegula's in his reaction to winning the lottery disgusted me.  He's a "yes man" and I cannot wait until the day the Pegulas and he are OUT.

[stinky finger]

My embarrassingly untrained eye sees an impressive young player.

 

His start/stop ability and puck handling reminds me of Martin St. Louis.

[SDS]

2 hours ago, TheCerebral1 said:

I like him a lot, I'd love to acquire picks if we move Eichel and get him somehow, but with KA in charge, we won't.  We have the WORST GENERAL MANAGER in the history of the organization.  A pacified yes man, who quoted the Pegula's as a gift to them.  What a joke.  

Make up a fan scenario... then proclaim the GM won’t execute your scenario in the future... then say he sucks because he hasn’t done yet what you said he should do in the future. 

Sounds reasonable. 

[stinky finger]

3 minutes ago, SDS said:

Make up a fan scenario... then proclaim the GM won’t execute your scenario in the future... then say he sucks because he hasn’t done yet what you said he should do in the future. 

Sounds reasonable. 

I'm trying so hard the get this.....but

 

 

[dudacek]

First impression is this kid is better than Lucas Raymond, last year’s #4.

You’d like a more sure thing at #1, but this kid could end of the best player in this draft. 

[SwampD]

13 hours ago, SDS said:

Make up a fan scenario... then proclaim the GM won’t execute your scenario in the future... then say he sucks because he hasn’t done yet what you said he should do in the future. 

Sounds reasonable. 

I’ve heard that you love these type posts. 

[woods-racer]

4 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I’ve heard that you love these type posts. 

You are really good at this, this time.

[SDS]

2 hours ago, SwampD said:

I’ve heard that you love these type posts. 

I love them as much as I love a piece of pizza that is 75% cheese.

[PerreaultForever]

On 6/3/2021 at 4:09 PM, TheCerebral1 said:

I agree, but he's a glorified puppet.  His thanking the Pegula's in his reaction to winning the lottery disgusted me.  He's a "yes man" and I cannot wait until the day the Pegulas and he are OUT.

I don't care about guys thanking the owners publicly, I expect some lying. It's only if he's listening to their hockey advice that it matters. Then he's the worst.

As for JBots being the worst, that for me rests on who decided on ROR and Skinner.  Was the ROR trade forced by the Pegulas over the bonus? If so, JBots gets a little forgiveness. Did he want to walk away on Skinner's outrageous number but Pegulas said sign him whatever it takes . Whoever chose sign on that is or was the problem. I'm not sure it was JBot. He might have been in a no win situation. His drafting doesn't seem terrible at this point. Better than Murray's. 

Eklund is a fine little player, but definitely not in the same class as Power. 

[LGR4GM]

10 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I don't care about guys thanking the owners publicly, I expect some lying. It's only if he's listening to their hockey advice that it matters. Then he's the worst.

As for JBots being the worst, that for me rests on who decided on ROR and Skinner.  Was the ROR trade forced by the Pegulas over the bonus? If so, JBots gets a little forgiveness. Did he want to walk away on Skinner's outrageous number but Pegulas said sign him whatever it takes . Whoever chose sign on that is or was the problem. I'm not sure it was JBot. He might have been in a no win situation. His drafting doesn't seem terrible at this point. Better than Murray's. 

Eklund is a fine little player, but definitely not in the same class as Power. 

Most have them in the same tier of talent from what I can see. 

[LGR4GM]

The more I watch Eklund the more I like him. I want to see him on NA ice where he'd have less time but holy crap is he great with the puck.