Worst fears growing as Senators lose winger William Eklund for an 'extended period'

The indication on Friday morning was that the club’s biggest off-season acquisition, who left Ottawa’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Thursday’s home opener, won’t be back anytime soon.

Eklund certainly won’t face the Nashville Predators at the Canadian Tire Centre, and the expectation right now is that he’ll be out for weeks. If the club’s worst fears are confirmed, it could be months.

The skilled winger, acquired from the San Jose Sharks only hours after the Senators dealt Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, was sent for further testing on Friday on an ankle injury he suffered racing for a puck in the first period against the Flyers.

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If Eklund suffered a high ankle sprain when he fell awkwardly into the boards on a hit from Philadelphia’s Simon Benoit, then the timeline for recovery is at least six to eight weeks. The issue with that injury is that it can bother a player all season.

“It’s an ankle injury. He’ll be out an extended period of time,” coach Travis Green said on Friday. “I don’t know how long, but he’s out for an extended period, unfortunately.”

Green said that Eklund won’t require surgery for the ailment and will play again this season.

He was brought in to play on the left side of Tim Stutzle and was skating there for the first time this season against the Flyers. Eklund was starting to look comfortable with his new Senators teammates, and the club can use his skill.