Let’s cut right to the chase: We’re projecting William Eklund to hit the 65-point mark for the San Jose Sharks in the 2025-26 season. If you’re looking for a high-upside forward who won’t cost you a first-round pick in your fantasy draft, Eklund should be circled, highlighted, and starred on your draft board. His performance last season—a quietly brilliant 17 goals and 41 assists for 58 points in 77 games—wasn’t a fluke; it was the foundation.
He showed flashes of the elite playmaking and vision that made him a top-10 pick, and now, the pieces are finally falling into place around him in San Jose for a true offensive breakout. The question isn’t if Eklund will take the next step, but how big that step will be. We believe it’s a significant one, and it all starts with the man advantage.
Analyzing Eklund’s Path to 65 Points
A jump from 58 to 65 points might seem modest, but it represents a crucial step into consistent, top-tier production. Projecting over a full 82-game season, we see Eklund evolving into a more assertive shooter while retaining his elite playmaking skills.
Projected 2025-26 Stats: 21 Goals, 44 Assists, 65 Points
This projection is rooted in two key factors: natural progression and an upgraded supporting cast. At just 23 years old, Eklund is entering his physical prime. His 58 points in 77 games last year calculate to a 62-point pace over a full season. A three-point bump is easily attainable through maturity and health alone. However, the true catalyst for his impending breakout lies with the personnel San Jose will be icing on their top power-play unit. Eklund’s hockey IQ is his greatest asset, and for the first time in his career, he’s about to be surrounded by talent that thinks the game on his level.
Why the Revamped Sharks Power Play is Eklund’s Ticket to Success
For years, the Sharks’ power play has been, to put it kindly, a work in progress. That era is over. This season, the top unit is poised to be one of the most intriguing in the league, and Eklund is at the heart of it. Picture this: Eklund on the half-wall, orchestrating play with a phenom like Macklin Celebrini drawing defensive coverage, fellow playmaker Will Smith creating space, veteran sniper Tyler Toffoli lurking in the bumper spot, and a power-play quarterback like John Klingberg walking the blue line.
This isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a paradigm shift. Defenses can no longer key in on one or two players. With Celebrini’s gravitational pull and Toffoli’s lethal shot, Eklund will have more time and space to dissect penalty-killing units. His vision will allow him to find seams that lead to easy tap-ins for his teammates, and the increased threat from others will open up shooting lanes for him to exploit. We expect at least 20-25 of his projected 65 points to come with the man advantage, providing a stable floor for his fantasy production all season long.
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