Is William Eklund already part of San Jose's core?

After reviewing William Eklund's preseason performance, it felt like a given that the San Jose Sharks would include him in their opening night roster. The winger looked like an NHLer. You couldn't tell that this was his first training camp. He blended inside the team's structure, dominated a few 5-on-5 shifts, and created more than a few chances on the powerplay.

But preseason hockey is not regular season hockey. Every year, we're reminded of that when the calendar turns to October. Systems tighten up, the game accelerates, and a few top prospects, who looked comfortable in camp, get left behind.

It has not been the case for Eklund. The winger has more than adequately filled his roster spot in his first few NHL games. 

But the 10-game deadline is fast approaching. Soon, San Jose will have to decide if they keep their prized seventh overall pick for more NHL games, burning the first year of his entry-level contract, or if they send him back to the SHL for an extra season.