In his NHL debut, Victor Eklund played on a top line with Bo Horvat and Simon Holmström. The Carolina Hurricanes won the game 2-1 against the New York Islanders, with Bo Horvat scoring his 300th NHL career goal. Felix Unger Sörum, a Swedish-born player for Carolina, also made his NHL debut in the same game, recording an assist on a goal by Nikolai Ehlers, while Joel Nyström had an assist on Mark Jankowski's game-winning goal.
Victor Eklund is expected to join the New York Islanders organization later this week and will extend his season by playing in the AHL with Bridgeport Islanders. Victor Eklund, drafted 16th overall by the New York Islanders in the previous year's NHL draft, scored 24 points (6 goals, 18 assists) in 43 SHL games this season. He also scored a goal in an AHL game against Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
That was the best moment of my life.
His background includes playing for Sweden's junior national team and winning a gold medal at the World Junior Championships, and his older brother William Eklund is a key player for the San Jose Sharks. In other NHL debut news, Anton Frondell made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks.
It was incredible, this is the best moment of my life.
I have never played a crazier game. I used to play as guys like Bo Horvat in video games when I was little and now I'm out playing with him and the other guys. It's crazy, but I'm enjoying every second.
It's fantastic to be part of that goal and I told him to keep the puck. 300 goals is completely incredible.
I have had a lot of fun this season! It has been up and down. It was difficult in the beginning to come from Hockeyallsvenskan up to SHL, but I think I found my way in the game and it has been magical. I feel so damn at home here, a thousand thanks for all the support.