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Inside how two Islanders teammates are helping Victor Eklund’s transition to NHL life: ‘Personal Uber drivers’
Islanders forwards Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom are helping 19-year-old Victor Eklund settle into life in the United States, from driving him around to furnishing his new apartment. Their support matters as the Swedish rookie adjusts to living independently while establishing himself in the NHL.
Eklund had been staying in a hotel because he was unsure whether he would make the team, but after playing ten games he has crossed the threshold that counts a year of his contract. His energetic play and strong battles have earned him a place in the top six, with coach Pete DeBoer praising his reads and defensive awareness. Heineman and Holmstrom have lent him furniture, offered meals and helped with practical needs; Holmstrom previously did the same for Heineman when he arrived on Long Island.
In short
- Heineman and Holmstrom are helping Eklund settle in.
- The 19-year-old has moved from a hotel into an apartment.
- His strong start has earned him a top-six role.
Explained simply
The New York Islanders are a team in the National Hockey League (NHL), North America’s top professional ice hockey league. Players joining from abroad must adapt to a new team and country, as well as the demands of a long season.
Victor Eklund is a 19-year-old Swedish forward beginning his NHL career with the Islanders. Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom, fellow Swedish forwards on the team, have helped him with everyday tasks as he moves from a hotel into his own apartment.
For a young player living independently in the United States for the first time, practical help can make the transition easier. Eklund is also working to establish his place in the team, so adjusting to life off the ice and finding his feet in the NHL are happening at the same time.