Victor Eklund looks set to be part of the New York Islanders’ Opening Night mix after a preseason that kept turning in his favor.
With camp and the exhibition slate now wrapped, Eklund appears to have done enough to stick. The 19-year-old, taken No. 16 overall by the Islanders as their second of three first-round picks in 2025, made an impression from the start and kept building on it through every chance he got.
That momentum wasn’t limited to the main camp. Eklund also turned heads at Islanders Rookie Camp, where he scored in both Rookie Scrimmages against the New Jersey Devils. He later got his NHL debut on April 14, 2026, and picked up a point while skating on the top line with Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom.
One more opening helped his case, too. Mathew Barzal re-aggravated a lower-body injury, which gave the Islanders even more reason to hold onto a player with Eklund’s offensive upside.
A post making the rounds summed up the feeling around him this way: “Well, I think it's safe to announce that Victor Eklund has made the #Isles. Well deserved. Did everything he had to do since rookie camp opened to prove he was ready for the opportunity.He's a stud & his skill set is needed.”
Eklund had already made clear how he approached camp when he said after his first rookie-camp practice, via the New York Post: “My expectation is that I work as hard as I can,” Eklund previously said following his first practice of rookie camp via the New York Post. “Give myself a shot at the team this year.
Whatever happens, I want to make sure I’m giving 100 percent. I’m still trying to work as hard as I can.
Just do my thing out there in the game and hopefully it goes well."
Reports throughout camp also pointed to his competitiveness as one of the traits that stood out most.
His spot is not official until Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. EST, but the signs are pointing strongly in that direction. Eklund is coming off 10 points, including three goals and seven assists, in nine American Hockey League games with Bridgeport last season.
The Islanders also sent Kashawn Aitcheson, Cole Eiserman and Isaiah George to Hamilton (AHL), while Vitek Vanecek was placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment.
Eklund spent camp skating on a line with Emil Heineman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Heineman highlighted another part of his game that caught his attention.
"He's a really skilled player, and what I notice, especially the small-area games where he really sneaks by or is able to get past a little bit just to handle the puck and give a good pass," Heineman said. "He is really sneaky with his quick turns, stuff like that, and then when he gets to space, he can shoot and make a really good pass as well."
Now the Islanders shift their focus to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 30.
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