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The New York Islanders are navigating a challenging start to the 2026-27 NHL regular season, with several key players unavailable due to injuries. Star forward Mathew Barzal has yet to make his season debut, sitting out the first 10 games with a knee issue; he continues to skate individually but has not joined team activities. In a recent matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, second-line center Calum Ritchie and winger Matias Maccelli both sustained lower-body injuries. Ritchie will be out for at least four weeks, while Maccelli faces a minimum of two weeks on the sidelines.
In response to these absences, the Islanders have turned to their depth, and rookie Victor Eklund has answered the call. The 20-year-old has shown steady improvement each game and is increasingly trusted by the coaching staff. Skating on the second line alongside veteran Brayden Schenn, who has shifted to center, and left winger Emil Heineman, Eklund appears to be gaining confidence. While he still makes occasional mistakes typical of a young player adjusting to the NHL, his overall play has justified a larger role.
Although the Islanders fell to the Los Angeles Kings in their final home game at UBS Arena before a four-game road trip, Eklund delivered another strong performance. He put his team on the board with a second-period power-play goal—the first of his career—with assists from Heineman and defenseman Tony DeAngelo. It marked his third goal of the season and his second consecutive game finding the net. In a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Eklund scored New York's second goal of the evening, with Heineman also picking up an assist on the play, highlighting the duo's growing rhythm.
Eklund's comfort on the ice is evident, and he is finding his spots more effectively. Against the Kings, he recorded three shots on goal and posted the second-best expected Goals For at 1.03. His xGoal Share of 95.2% ranked second in the game, trailing only Heineman's 95.4%, while Schenn followed closely at 94.7%—underscoring the second line's exceptional performance.
Key Analysis
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Eklund's game is his willingness to engage physically. He set a single-game career high with six hits, giving him multiple hits in seven of 10 games this season. That tenacity earned him 17:44 of ice time, the third-most among forwards behind Bo Horvat (21:33) and Simon Holmstrom (20:50), who was on fire entering the contest. The 17:44 marked by far the most playing time Eklund has received as a rookie, a clear sign that his role is expanding with each passing game.