Eklund, Zetterlund Learned of Sharks’ Trade With Senators From Surprise Source

Fabian Zetterlund and William Eklund learned about the Zetterlund trade…from Rasmus Sandin.

Zetterlund and Eklund were at the sauna around the 12 PM PT Mar. 7 Trade Deadline. Coming out, Zetterlund took a call from good friend Sandin.

“I’m like, yeah, man, that sucks. He’s like, what? I’m like, you just got traded. He had no idea,” Sandin told San Jose Hockey Now on Friday. “Their GM called him at the same time. He’s like, GM is calling me right now. I’ll call you back.”

The San Jose Sharks traded Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 second-round pick.

Sandin, who learned about the trade from ESPN, says Zetterlund and Eklund thought he was pranking them at first.

The Swedish trio are best friends, most recently going to Mexico together during the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

“They’re like brothers. They do everything together,” Sandin said of Eklund-Zetterlund. “I know, I’m on the phone with them everyday, at least for 10 minutes or whatever, two minutes, whatever it is, but we talk everyday.”

The San Jose Sharks star took the trade hard, and Sandin understands his pain.

Sandin, 25, was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was close to William Nylander, to the Washington Capitals in Feb. 2023.

“It’s part of the business,” Sandin said. “You’re kind of a product.”

Sandin got over it, signing a five-year extension with the Caps last year, and so will Eklund.

“They want to do what’s best for the team,” Sandin said of San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier, or really, any GM’s intentions. “Everyone might not agree, but they obviously do it because they want the best for the team.”