James Nichols
Victor Eklund‘s ascension has been quick. The New York Islanders top prospect recalled their top forward prospect on Tuesday ahead of the Isles season finale.
New York was mathamatically eliminated over the weekend after a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The last-ditch Pete Deboer hire didn’t go as planned for the remainder of 2025-26, and the Islanders will ultimately end their season sooner rather than later.
However, not before Eklund gets a kick at the can.
Eklund was reassigned by the Islanders from Djurgardens of the SHL to the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League on March 26th, as soon as his season was over in Sweden.
It’s been a short, yet impressive sample for Eklund who has scored nine points (two goals, seven assists) in seven games with the Isalnders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.
Thus, Eklund’s impressive North American stint has garnered a recall, something Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said he was contemplating while the Islanders were fighting for playoff position.
“We’re looking at everything,” Darche said. “Every day we want to put the best roster we have [on the ice].”
The Islanders also recalled Liam Foudy for Game 82 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Neither Eklund or Foudy have yet to be confirmed in the Islanders lineup on Tuesday. If Eklund is in, he would be making his NHL debut.
According to the release, “Eklund, who the Islanders selected 16th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, has nine points (2G, 7A) and a shootout winner in his first seven games with Bridgeport. Eklund came over to North America on March 26 after completing his first Swedish Hockey League (SHL) campaign. The 19-year-old winger recorded 24 points (6G, 18A) through 43 games with Djurgårdens IF. This is Eklund’s first NHL recall.
“Foudy has recorded 46 points (25G, 21A) through 58 games for Bridgeport this season, setting AHL career highs in goals and points. This is Foudy’s first recall this season, but the 26-year-old played two games with the Islanders last season (Oct. 22 and 25, 2024). The forward, who was drafted 18th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018, signed with the Islanders as a free agent in 2024.”
