Andrew Gross: Prospect Victor Eklund's dazzling goal in rookie game creates excitement for Islanders
Victor Eklund of the Islanders during the first day of training camp on Friday in East Meadow. Credit: Dawn McCormick
NEWARK, N.J. — All prospects have the chance to showcase their talents but, naturally, it’s the higher draft picks who draw the most interest and scrutiny from both the team’s talent evaluators and its fans.
In that regard, there were promising signs for the Islanders’ future in a 5-4 overtime win over the Devils on Sunday at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House in a rookie camp game (keeping in mind that it was just that, a rookie vs. rookie scrimmage with the Islanders having conducted two practices and the Devils only one).
But the Islanders had to be pleased to see Cole Eiserman, the 20th overall pick in 2024, score twice, including the winner, and Daniil Prokhorov, a second-round selection in 2025, also net two goals.
Yet the forward prospect with the best chance of making the Islanders’ roster out of training camp is Victor Eklund, a smooth-skating Swede taken 16th overall in 2025 in the same first round that yielded defensemen Matthew Schaefer (first overall) and Kashawn Aitcheson (17th). It could become one of the most transformative drafts in team history.
Eklund scored a highlight-reel power-play goal that will only heighten the anticipation of what he can show when training camp opens on Thursday.
Eklundplayed well in the top Swedish league last season with six goals and 18 assists for Djurgardens IF.
Sure, he may need a bit more seasoning with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, Ontario. But Eklund, who will turn 20 on Oct. 3, came to North America late last season and had three goals and seven assists in nine AHL games — also appearing in two playoff games — and notched an assist as he made his NHL debut in the Islanders’ season finale.
“It was just a sign that I’m on the right path,” Eklund said. “The last game there, it was pretty nice of them to give me. It just made me want to work more and, in the future, want to be on the team for a long time.”
He skates exceptionally well and has a shot to match. As he showed against the Devils rookies, he’s also good at misdirecting defenders with his eyes.
Eklund whipped in a two-on-one power-play goal at 7:50 of the third period to give the Islanders a 3-2 lead, keeping his eyes glued to teammate Cameron Berg until the last second before roofing a shot over Devils goalie Jakub Malek from the left circle. The way he looked off Devils defenseman Seamus Casey prevented Casey from committing to the shot as he instead tried to prevent a cross-ice pass.
“I looked to pass but I feel like the defenseman wasn’t ready, so I just tried to rip it,” Eklund said. “I just shot. I’m pretty familiar with that kind of shot. I was lucky.”
Outside observer’s voice: That had nothing to do with luck. That was pure skill.
“He’s a deceptive player. He can look one way, shoot the other,” said Hamilton coach Jay McKee, who ran the Islanders’ bench. “I don’t think anyone knows what he’s doing with the puck. He’s got the ability to make some great passes as well. It was a bit of a laser, so good for him.”
“It’s the first game, of course,” Eklund said. “It was tough. The ice was so small. I’ve been training on the big ice all summer.”
Still, Eklund may face a numbers crunch in training camp with veterans such as Pierre Engvall, Anthony Duclair, Kyle MacLean and Ondrej Palat all seeking ice time. And because Eklund doesn’t have to clear waivers to be reassigned to Hamilton, he might wind up there. But it’s quite possible that the best version of the Islanders should feature him among their top 12 forwards.
Beyond Sunday’s goal-scorers, the most impressive moment in the Islanders’ day was left wing Tomas Poletin, a fourth-round pick in 2025, skating away intact after getting plastered into the back wall in the first period by hulking Devils defenseman Anton Silaev, the 10th overall pick in 2024.
At 6-7, 211 pounds, Silaev even makes the 6-6, 234-pound Prokhorov look not quite as big as he is.
“I kind of saw him,” the 6-2, 203-pound Poletin said. “I let the puck go through, but you can’t really do much there. I just tried to get as strong as possible. I expected it, so it wasn’t that bad. He’s a big guy for sure. There’s not a lot you can do. I’m all good.”
That should be the notation on Eklund’s day: All good.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
