Right Wing
5’10/175
Right
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies/QMJHL
Related: Adam Novotny
Steiner is a Swiss‑developed, North America‑polished winger, that has become increasingly valuable as Switzerland continues producing high‑IQ, high‑pace forwards. A “High‑motor playmaking winger with transition pop and early production indicators.” He’s not a pure sniper. He’s not a pure finesse guy. He’s a pace‑driver with a playmaker’s brain and a forechecker’s engine. Steiner broke out in the 2024-25 season with 23 goals, 60 points in 57 points, a 0.93 PPG pace as an 18‑year‑old in the QMJHL — strong for a Swiss import. In the 2025-26 season, Steiner has 4 G, 9 A, 13 Pts in 14 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Lars has been a mainstay on the Swiss national team, representing them at the U17, U18s and U20s, Steiner has a great amount of speed and displays a strong pace of play, slowing things down when he needs and then quickly turn on the jets to catch opponents off- guard. He’s a skilled playmaker and driver and he should be the go-to offensive player for Switzerland in this tournament. Steiner missed over a month due to injury but has still managed to register a point per game with the Huskies. He’s a valuable member of that organization, and there’s hope he’ll find another gear in the coming games and skyrocket his draft stock.
Size/Strength Average
Skating Great
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Great
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Good
Defensive Average
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent
Strengths
1. Steiner has elite transition comfort, quick processing, and adaptability to smaller ice.
2. Playmaking Vision- a playmaker/power forward hybrid; He consistently posts more assists than goals, and his retrieval‑to‑pass game is strong.
3. Motor & Competitiveness: strong forechecking, wins races, drives pace, and plays bigger than 5’10”.
Areas for Improvement
1. Finishing Efficiency- His shooting percentage dropped from 11.3% to 5.6% year‑over‑year in the QMJHL.
2. Strength Through Contact-At 5’10”, 176 lbs, he’ll need: more lower‑body strength, improved puck protection, better net‑front leverage
3. Defensive Consistency- Swiss wingers often need time to adjust to North American defensive reads.
Scouting Report
Lars Steiner is a momentum‑tilter. His game is built around a rare blend of straight‑line power, east‑west deception, and a motor that forces defenders into mistakes. He doesn’t dominate with flash; he dominates with inevitability. Every shift feels like he’s bending the ice toward the offensive zone. He’s the kind of winger who can drive a line without needing to be the focal point — a trait that NHL teams covet because it scales up lineup structures. Steiner is part of the new wave of Swiss forwards who blend pace, competitiveness, and playmaking IQ. He’s not big, but he plays with a forcefulness that belies his frame. His early transition to North America — and immediate success — is one of the strongest indicators of NHL projection. He’s the classic “Swiss riser”: smart, adaptable, and increasingly productive against tougher competition. Steiner opened his QMJHL career with 11 points in his first 3 games as a 16‑year‑old — a rare and widely noted breakout, finishing the season with 60 points in 57 games. Steiner is classified as a playmaker/power forward hybrid; he excels at manipulating defenders off the rush, finding seams after retrievals, and creating offense through pace and pressure. Swiss prospects who succeed in North America tend to have elite motors, and Steiner fits that mold. Lars Steiner is comparable to Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning, a high motor winger, with elite transition ability. An elite performance at the World Juniors for him could propel him into first round status, especially with the start he is having to the season.
Skill: Energetic third‑line winger who drives transition and forechecks effectively.
NHL Comparable: Brandon Hagel
NHL Potential: Top‑six dual‑threat winger
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | PTS |
| 2024-25 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 70 | 27 | 68 |
| Switzerland U18 | Hlinka Gretzly Cup | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| Switzerland U20 | WJC-20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025-26 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 15 | 5 | 14 |
| Switzerland U20 | WJC-20 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
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