Stenberg emerging as quality leader entering NHL Draft

The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The first round will be June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are June 29 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features. Today, a look at center Otto Stenberg with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Otto Stenberg has the look of a leader on the ice and within the locker room.

The 18-year-old center (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League has thrived in every instance too. He's No. 6 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters presented by BioSteel.

He led Sweden with 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in seven games in a silver medal-winning performance as captain at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He led Sweden to another silver medal with nine points (five goals, four assists) in five games as captain at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also was captain and had three points (two goals, one assist) in a bronze medal-winning effort at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge.

"It's really special to be a captain," Stenberg said. "I think it shows that I'm a good person off the ice too. It's easy for me to talk in front of a group and also talk to everybody in the room. I'm a pretty social guy."

But don't take Stenberg's word for it.

"I think he handles the pressure of situations really good," said Rogle defenseman Tom Willander, who teamed with Stenberg at the U-18 Worlds and is No. 12 on Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters. "Obviously as a captain, you're the one that has to speak when things go wrong. But you're also the guy that kind of pushes everyone and I think he did that really well.

"Not only was he the one scoring the goals, but I think he did a great job being a leader of the team too."

Stenberg finished fourth in scoring at the U-18 Worlds and opened plenty of eyes with his performance on a line with center David Edstrom (No. 25) and right wing Felix Unger Sorum (No. 57).

"We had a really good line," Stenberg said. "I think everything clicked, the pucks went in. I got a good flow in the game. I think we helped each other out pretty well. Edstrom is a guy that's really good with those small things like winning back pucks and on the forecheck and backcheck."

The Stenberg-Edstrom-Sorum line combined for 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in seven games for Sweden, who lost 3-2 in overtime to the United States in the gold-medal game April 30.

"Stenberg is a highly skilled player with a good work ethic, good skating ability, quickness and speed," Central Scouting chief European scout Janne Vuorinen said. "Otto has excellent puck skills, steals the puck well and has a strong stick in battles. He's got a good variation of shots, can score from every angle, has a strong ability to control the puck in tight areas and that vision to make plays.

"He's a leader on the ice and takes charge in games when it matters."

Taking charge is something Stenberg takes great pride in doing.

"I think that's when I'm at my best ... when the game is hard and when it means something," he said. "I like the physical game, hitting someone when it's hard out there."

Born in Stenungsund, Sweden, Stenberg began playing hockey when he was 5 years old.

"Growing up I played a lot of hockey and soccer, floorball and handball, another big sport in Sweden," Stenberg said. "I played all sports, but it was hockey that was always first and the most fun."

Stenberg was coached by his father, David, until the age of 12. Each of his younger brothers, Ivar and Knut, also play hockey in Sweden. The three played together for hours back home whenever given an opportunity and it's for that reason Stenberg appreciates the physical side of the game.

"[Playing physical] is the one thing we talk about a lot in Sweden," Stenberg said. "A lot of Swedes are pretty skilled, but not as good physically as the Canadians or players from the United States, so I think that's one area we're talking about a lot back home in Sweden. We need to get stronger and more physical when we play against the U.S. and Canada."

Stenberg played in three leagues this season, including 23 games with Frolunda in the SHL, Sweden's top professional men's league. He had three points (one goal, two assists), but expects better results in a full-time role with them next season.

"In my first 15 games with Frolunda I was an extra forward, so I played maybe two minutes each game," he said. "But after Christmas there were maybe 12 games where I played a third- or fourth-line role. I'm an offensive player so when I'm playing on the men's team and on the fourth line, my job is to just dump the pucks and play easy ... and that's not my game.

"I'm glad I had a chance to play with the Under-18 and Under-20 teams in Frolunda to gain that ice time and experience prior to next season."

Photo credits: IIHF

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