Mathew Barzal’s latest knee setback has opened a door for Victor Eklund, and the 19-year-old winger is wasting no time stepping through it.
The Islanders entered camp knowing Barzal would be sidelined after his knee flared up over the summer. General manager Mathieu Darche said last week that Barzal would miss training camp while rehabbing the injury, a frustrating development for a player who appeared in 81 games last season after missing much of the 2024-25 campaign following knee surgery on his patella. The team had been hoping those issues were behind him, but for now Barzal is unavailable to start the season, leaving a real opening in the forward group.
Eklund has been one of the main beneficiaries. The Islanders took the Swedish winger 16th overall in the 2025 NHL draft, then watched him return home to play for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League.
He put together a strong year there, finishing fourth in rookie scoring, before deciding to go pro and sign with the Islanders. After that, he joined Bridgeport for its final playoff push and produced three goals and seven assists in 10 games.
He also got a taste of the NHL in the Islanders’ 2025-26 season finale, picking up an assist on a Bo Horvat goal against Carolina for his first point.
His momentum has only grown since then. At rookie camp, Eklund scored in all three Islanders prospect scrimmages, and that form has carried into preseason play. Pete DeBoer has noticed.
“He’s just a really good hockey player. Can play in any situation.
Dog on a bone on the puck out there. If he continues to do what he’s doing, he’s gonna make us have to make some really tough decisions,” said the Isles bench boss after Sunday’s preseason game in Newark.
Eklund didn’t score in that game, but he still made his presence felt with three shots, four hits and 18:45 of ice time. He also logged 5:00 on the power play and 0:57 shorthanded, a clear sign DeBoer is giving him real responsibilities rather than just a token look.
That kind of trust matters, especially with a coach who has leaned on young forwards before. In Dallas, DeBoer gave Wyatt Johnston a full-time NHL role at 19, and Johnston responded with 23 goals and NHL All-Rookie honors. Logan Stankoven also found a meaningful role quickly after his call-up.
For Eklund, the clock is ticking a bit. Barzal is expected to miss only a few games, so the chance could be brief if the rookie doesn’t seize it immediately.
He is set to skate on the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman, and he remains eligible to play nine games before the first year of his entry-level contract is burned. With opening night in Toronto just a week away, the timing is there for him to leave a mark.
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