TORONTO — Victor Eklund's inclusion on the Islanders roster came as a surprise to him, even as it became clear during preseason that he would make the team. When informed of his position prior to the Islanders' season opener against the Leafs, which ended in a 2-1 loss, Eklund expressed his surprise at the accomplishment. "It was kind of a shock," Eklund told The Post. "I just tried to play to my best every day. I didn’t feel like I was safe at any time."
General manager Mathieu Darche had previously described Eklund's inclusion as the obvious decision, particularly following Mat Barzal's injury that opened up a spot on the roster. Eklund played 11:38 in his first significant NHL game, facing off against the top line of Auston Matthews, Kirill Marchenko, and Jack Roslovic. Eklund took time to adjust to the pace of the game and sat out the final 7:34 as coach Pete DeBoer reduced his bench. However, DeBoer noted that Eklund improved as the game progressed, stating, "He had a couple looks too. He could’ve scored. I had no problem with his game at all."
In injury updates, Mat Barzal, who is recovering from a left kneecap injury, is reported to have made "really, really good progress" and is expected to begin skating early next week. Darche mentioned that the Islanders have adjusted their timeline for Barzal's recovery but remain optimistic about his return.
Additionally, Nick Leopard, a Long Island resident and CEO of Accordion, an AI-focused financial consulting firm, is confirmed as the lead investor in a group that purchased a 15 percent share in the Islanders. This information was first reported by Sports Business Journal, which noted that both Leopard and David Shuman, who announced his minority stake in late August, have received approval from the NHL.