From Draft Day to the NHL: Ivar Stenberg's Jump to the Roster

Selected No. 2 overall by the San Jose Sharks at the 2026 NHL Draft, Ivar Stenberg has bypassed the usual development path for draftees, which for most includes between one and four years of development in affiliate leagues before their permanent roster spot.

Last year, the Sharks finished their seventh straight season without a post-season run 39-35-8, 5th place for the Pacific Division. With Stenberg's jump to the roster alongside a strong youthful core, the Sharks are looking to close that gap for this season's playoff picture.

Who Stenberg Is

The first of three Sharks' first-round picks for 2026, Stenberg spent last season in the SHL, where he earned 33 points in 43 games played (11 goals and 22 assists) for Frölunda HC. At 5'11" and 185 pounds, the 19-year-old winger was praised by his Frölunda coach Robert Ohlsson for having the ability to control the tempo of the game. At the time, Stenberg had earned the fifth-most points by an 18-year-old in Swedish Hockey League history.

The left-winger won silver with Sweden at the 2025 U18 World Junior Championship, logging 13 points (eight goals and five assists), and he was named to the tourney's All-Star Team. He also helped Sweden finish with bronze at the 2024-25 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, leading the tournament with four goals.

Before the NHL season began, Stenberg was described as one of the most NHL-ready players in his class. Elite Prospects classified Stenberg as a cerebral tactician, a dangler, and a playmaker, labels that fit the way he reads the ice. His production and playmaking alongside older players supports that, as he was one of only six other players on Frölunda's roster that were under 18 years of age.

Who Stenberg Is Becoming

In July, Stenberg signed a 3-year, entry-level $3,225,000 contract with the Sharks. He made his debut Oct. 1 against the Florida Panthers in a 4-3 overtime win, contributing 16 shifts, a plus-minus rating of zero and 13:35 of ice time.

His first point came two nights later in yet another overtime win for Team Teal, this time against the Los Angeles Kings. Stenberg got the assist for Tyler Toffoli's power-play goal to tie the game. Since then, he's earned four points in six games total, with his first NHL goal in the Sharks' loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky has called the Sharks' power play a work in progress. Less than ten games into the season, the Sharks are ranked 10th on the power play at 23.5 percent.

The adjustment from the larger European rink to the smaller North American one, and the pace of NHL travel is understandably different.

Writing for NHL.com’s Swedish-language site, sports journalist Hampus Duvefelt described Stenberg's play so far as one who has yet to figure out how to get the most out of his talent in five-on-five play. Finishing minus-4 in the Bruins game, Stenberg said post-game that he could play better and smarter, including on five-on-five.

Elsewhere, Christian Folin told NHL.com’s Swedish-language site that Stenberg “is going to be a superstar” and has “the qualities needed to perform at the highest level.”

Stenberg's first NHL goal, despite the loss and the minus-4 finish, is a step toward that. The bigger question may be whether he can keep it up, game after game, on the NHL's schedule.

Team Teal's next test comes on their six-game road trip, beginning Thursday against the Nashville Predators and ending Oct. 24 in Boston. The long stretch will show whether the Sharks can bounce back and carry the momentum from Stenberg's first goal.