The New York Rangers will have to go back to the drawing board when it comes to improving their top six, as one potential option is no longer available. As far back as the trade deadline there was speculation that the Blueshirts would try and sell high on Braden Schneider to the San Jose Sharks, and a popular name that was suggested as a potential return was William Eklund. That deal can no longer go down as the Ottawa Senators swooped in on Tuesday to have him take the roster spot recently vacated by team captain Brady Tkachuk.
Senators trade for Eklund is masterclass in asset management
The Senators were in a tough spot after their captain bailed on them, and they are at a spot in their rebuild in which they need players on the roster more than draft picks. While it would have been tempting to use No. 9 overall on Friday, using it as an asset to land William Eklund was brilliant.
Goals Above Replacement, last two seasons.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) June 23, 2026
William Eklund +22.7
Brady Tkachuk +18.5
Ottawa's just a buyer guys. Improving the team this summer.
Eklund will turn 24 in October, and is coming off a season in which he scored 15 goals and added 38 assists for 53 points in 78 games. The previous year he scored 17 goals and added 41 assists for 58 points in 77 games, and right now he's shown to be a pretty solid up and coming player.
There's room for him to be more aggressive when it comes to shooting the puck, and the Senators have a great playmaker in Tim Stützle who could help Eklund be an even more productive scorer.
Rangers will need to get moving quickly before all of their options are gone
In the last few days the Rangers have seen players like Tkachuk, Eklund, and Jordan Kyrou change teams. With a pretty weak UFA class, expected to be highlighted by Alex Tuch, there aren't many good options for the Rangers to hone in on.
Their best case for improving the roster could be by getting assets back in a Vincent Trocheck trade, but nothing is close on that front. There remains a ton of speculation, and it remains to be seen if President and General Manager Chris Drury will be able to get the return he is looking for his veteran center.
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