USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectDavid Gonzales-Imagn Images
Pitbull next to William Eklund
The NHL offseason is currently in full swing, and there have already been a number of notable trades as teams retool ahead of the upcoming campaign. That includes the one that sent William Eklund from the Sharks to the Senators, which he learned about when he was enjoying a Pitbull concert in Sweden.
There are plenty of perks that come with being a professional athlete, but unless you have the leverage to stick a no-trade clause in your contract, you also know there’s always a chance you could be forced to start a new life in another city at a moment’s notice if the powers that be decide to ship you off to another team.
NHL teams are regularly swapping players in an attempt to improve, but blockbuster deals tend to be few and far between. However, that has not been the case during the current offseason, as there’s been a fairly scorching trade market that’s led to transactions involving notable names including Brady Tkachuk, Darren Raddysh, and William Eklund.
The last man on that list was sent from the Sharks to the Senators on Tuesday, and that development may have put a damper on what was supposed to be an enjoyable concert in Stockholm.
William Eklund was at a Pitbull concert when he learned he was being traded to the Senators
Eklund initially made a name for himself in his native Sweden before the Sharks selected him with the 7th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He debuted with San Jose that year, and the forward recently wrapped up his fifth season with the franchise while recording 15 goals and 28 assists.
The Senators needed to fill the void that formed after Tkachuk was sent to the Panthers to join forces with his brother, and on Tuesday, they appeared to land his replacement after orchestrating the deal that sent Eklund to Ottawa for a couple of prospects and the ninth overall pick in the upcoming draft.
The newest member of the squad chatted with TSN in the wake of the trade and dropped a very amusing anecdote when he revealed “I was actually at the Pitbull concert when I got the call,” as the man who headed back to Sweden for the offseason decided to make the trek to 3Arena in Stockholm for Mr. Worldwide’s show with Lil Jon on June 23rd (he added “Fireball” is his favorite Pitbull song).
Dalé.