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What makes 2026 NHL Draft prospect Ivar Stenberg special

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Jun 2, 2026, 13:49 EDT
What makes 2026 NHL Draft prospect Ivar Stenberg special
Credit: Steven Ellis

It took Ivar Stenberg about two shifts with Sweden to make his presence known at the IIHF World Championship last month.

First, he landed a massive hit on Darnell Nurse, which he promptly apologized for before heading to the box. Then, he tipped in what would have been Sweden’s first goal – only for it to be a high-stick.

In the end, Stenberg (EE-var STEN-baerg) finished with four goals and eight points in eight games in his first major men’s national team competition. He had a pair of goals against Italy, and then scored again against Norway and Slovakia, with the goal against the Slovaks being one of the best of the tournament. He only failed to register a point twice, and he played north of 22 minutes in three outings. Stenberg’s chemistry with Viggo Bjorck was apparent, and with Lucas Raymond serving as the glue that kept the two youngsters in line, the trio swept the top three player awards for Sweden.

With Gavin McKenna watching from home, Stenberg was able to steal the spotlight on the world stage. Sweden didn’t make it out of the quarterfinals, but it was clear that Stenberg was not only one of the best Swedes, but one of the best young forwards, period.

It’s been a remarkable season for Stenberg. He won gold at the World Juniors in January, helping to finally end a winless drought dating back to 2012. He also won a Champions Hockey League title with Frolunda while taking home the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year honors. But, most importantly, he established himself as a key figure for Frolunda’s SHL team. He primarily played in the top six and finished with 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games. He quieted down a bit in the latter stages of the regular season, but he still recorded the third most productive season by a draft-eligible SHL player of all-time.

“Some might call (the SHL) a little bit of a defensive league,” Frolunda GM Fredrik Sjöstrom told Daily Faceoff’s Tyson Cole earlier this year. “It’s pretty tight, and all the teams are very structured here, and everybody back-checks like crazy. So I would say it’s impressive to see how he’s been able to produce at this level.”

Scouts love Stenberg. Of course, there’s the concern about him as an undersized winger – NHL Central Scouting listed him at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds in their final pre-Draft Combine measurements. Stenberg isn’t a bruiser by any means, and he often shied away from danger in the SHL. That seemed to be less of an issue at the World Championship. But, of course, pushing around some non-NHLers is one thing – going up against Radko Gudas or Tom Wilson is a totally different animal.

So how would Stenberg get around that? His puck game.

Stenberg is a dynamic forward who excels equally as a shooter and a playmaker. His hockey IQ is among the best in the draft class, and definitely in the same realm as McKenna. It feels like he’s always in the right spot at the right time in the offensive zone. He has the hands and know-how to get the puck into scoring lanes consistently under pressure. Many of the best players thrive in small-area situations – finding ways to win individual battles in tight areas and create scoring opportunities. That’s where Stenberg thrives. His quick, electric stickhandling can be hard to predict as a defender, and he never seems to look frazzled, even when he’s dealing with older, stronger competition.

“He’s relaxed,” Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell said during the World Juniors. “He doesn’t think about that, he doesn’t talk about it. I think he’s handling well… Other guys would maybe start thinking, ‘Oh, I need to score this game.’ He’s just out there playing.”

And then there’s the footwork. Just about every top prospect needs to be capable of blasting past opponents while having the decision-making to match it. Stenberg has excellent acceleration, and his edge work is already well above most in his age group. He can effortlessly exit his own zone on breakouts, skate through the neutral zone, and set up offensive opportunities without losing a beat. It’s also easy to appreciate how he’s always moving on the power play, forcing defenders to leave their comfort zone and get tired out in the process.

Where Stenberg separates himself from McKenna is his defensive game. Stenberg is already quite reliable in his own end, which isn’t always the case for top prospects. He often makes strong defensive reads, disrupts passing lanes, and forces turnovers. He’s definitely more aggressive than McKenna, even if that’s not one of Stenberg’s strengths. From a truly competitive standpoint, Stenberg is as close to a rounded forward as you’ll find this year.

“He’s got the poise, the skill and the numbers to back it up,” one scout said about Stenberg’s push to go first overall.

Most scouts have Stenberg either first or second this year, it seems. Daily Faceoff has him at No. 2. The San Jose Sharks pick second overall, and while Stenberg would give them another high-profile winger capable of being a top-line threat, they definitely could use a defenseman at that pick. Still, it shouldn’t be that easy – at this point in time, Stenberg’s potential seems too dangerous to pass up on. If you’re the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 4, you’re probably thrilled (especially if the Caleb Malhotra to Vancouver rumors persist to the very end).

At his best, Stenberg looks like an 80-90-point forward who excels in enough areas of the game to truly be the best player in this draft class. His floor is more of a solid second-line winger who you can rely on defensively. Scouts note that Stenberg doesn’t have a truly game-breaking element to his game, and his hands aren’t as “elite” as McKenna – at least, not yet. That being said, Stenberg looks as close to NHL-ready as anyone in this draft class and should be a legit contender for the Calder Trophy.

Either way, someone’s getting a good one here. And the debate between McKenna and Stenberg won’t quiet down any time soon.

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