Senators' William Eklund leaves game with lower-body injury

The Ottawa Senators could be going without a key top-six forward for some time, as winger William Eklund left the team’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period with a lower-body injury.

The play came just under eight minutes into the game when Flyers defenseman Simon Benoit finished a check on Eklund along the boards.

In an eventful offseason in Canada’s capital that saw former captain Brady Tkachuk request a trade and ultimate get one that united him with his brother Matthew with the Florida Panthers, Eklund was the big acquisition lined up by general manager Steve Staios to add impactful production on the wing.

Eklund was acquired from the San Jose Sharks for the No. 9 overall pick in June’s NHL Draft. Chosen by the Sharks with the seventh overall pick in 2021, Eklund is signed to a three-year contract that is currently in its first season and comes along with a salary cap hit of $5.6 million.