Ivar Stenberg is emerging as one of the most intriguing prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft, blending raw offensive talent with flashes of elite hockey IQ. Here is a detailed scouting breakdown.
Related: Viggo Bjorck
Ivar Stenberg is a consensus Top 3 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft; he has the complete offensive toolbox to become an elite Winger in the NHL. Stenberg thrived at the U18 level for Sweden and then dominated the J20 circuit with 53 points in 27 games. He just seems to think the game at a much higher level than most kids his age and has the pure skill to consistently beat defenders. Get ready to watch him play a full year in the SHL with Frolunda– after dominating the U-20 level, he’s ready.Stenberg is off to a terrific start to the 2025-26 season, he has 4 points in first 6 games, leading all U20 skaters in the league. Averaging nearly 14 minutes of ice time per game.
He made noise for Sweden at the world under-18s, scoring 8 goals and 13 points in 7 games and always seems to thrive internationally.
Stenberg consistently reads the game a step ahead. His off-puck movement and deceptive pivots allow him to shake defenders and create space. An excellent skater with quick acceleration and edge control, enabling him to drive play and transition effectively. Stenberg posses a lethal wrist shot and confident one-timer. He’s equal parts playmaker and finisher, often attempting dangerous passes into the slot. Stenberg is an incredibly intelligent playmaking forward who also has plenty of competitiveness in his game. He’s equal parts playmaker and finisher, and is able to drive play himself instead of relying on older, more mature talent to help push his game along. He always stands out in big way and is always in the middle of a play. His great vision and IQ are always a step or two ahead of the opposition. He’s extremely deceptive with his movements and can shake defenders off with quick pivots when he has the puck.
Stenberg’s pure skill and speed are his two best assets, but don’t overlook the way that he thinks the game at such a high level. We’ll be watching that hockey sense closely this season, as the ability it gives him to read and control play could lead to a significant leap this year. Ivar’s puck skill, offensive instincts, scoring package, and playmaking package are all high-end. He makes guys miss with the puck on his stick, beats goalies one-on-one with his handles regularly, and has a lethal wrister release and a confident one-timer that give him quick-strike ability. Stenberg has good-enough size, plays hard and has both the skill and speed to challenge pro defensemen. He sees the ice well, can extend plays and makes those around him better.
Although Stenberg has alot of positive attributes, he also has some negative attributes. Scouts note that he tends to operate on the outside, rarely driving into high-danger areas. This limits his scoring efficiency despite high shot volume. He needs to improve in one-on-one battles (48% win rate) and increase physical involvement. Some analysts have raised concerns about how his style will translate to the NHL’s tighter, more physical game. Ivar Stenberg is comparable to William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs, his silky hands, explosive edgework, and shoot-pass duality mirror Stenberg’s toolkit; both can dominate in transition and thrive in open ice. Stenberg is widely considered a top-three talent in the 2026 draft class, with many rankings placing him second or third overall. His ceiling is high, but his development will hinge on adapting to physical play and learning to exploit central ice more effectively. Ivar Stenberg could be next Sweden superstar if he lands with the right team and if he develops properly, but he also has bust potential.
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