Blues draft Otto Stenberg 25th overall
The St. Louis Blues selected Otto Stenberg with the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Otto Stenberg
Position: Center
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
Club: Frolunda (U20 Sweden)
Nationality: 🇸🇪
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 6th among European skaters
2022-23 stats
| GP | G | A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frolunda | 29 | 11 | 15 |
| U18 Worlds | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Stenberg entered the 2022-23 campaign with high expectations coming off of a stellar year in the Swedish junior circuit and a dazzling performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. However, his production at club level left scouts wanting more.
Stenberg's scoring rate dropped slightly in the U20 league this year, and he failed to make an impression through 23 games in the SHL. He was outscored on his junior team by fellow draft-eligible forwards Noah Dower Nilsson and David Edstrom.
It's Stenberg's dominance with the Tre Kronor on his chest that has elevated his draft stock. After beginning the season with a strong showing as Sweden's captain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he capped the campaign with a record-tying outing at the U18s.
Again as the Swedish captain, Stenberg led his nation to the gold-medal game, where it lost to the U.S. in overtime. He scored seven goals and 16 points en route to the final, matching William Nylander's record for single-tournament scoring by a Swede.
Stenberg didn't just dominate against lesser competition at the event, either. He racked up four goals and nine points in two games against Canada, coming in the opening contest of the round-robin and in the semifinal.
He's listed as a center but has spent a notable amount of time at left wing throughout the season, including at the U18s.
He's expected to remain in Sweden with Frolunda next season, where he will likely make a full-time transition to the SHL.
What they're saying
"There's something special about the way he plays," wrote FloHockey's Chris Peters. "The question is simply if the top end of his game is something he can repeat night in and night out because there's no question he has tools that can make him an impactful forward."
"He is a strong skater with good hands who can be a threat in transition," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "His shot is excellent, and Stenberg is often a threat to score from the faceoff dots, although I don't know if that will be his role on an NHL power play."
"Competes, plays quick and fast, always involved and with a noticeable impact every shift," wrote Sportsnet's Jason Bukala. "Top-line NHL forward is now possible on projection."
Click here to watch Stenberg's highlights