Otto Stenberg might not normally be much of a talker on the ice.
But during the Allsvenskan playoffs in Sweden this spring, that changed a little bit.
“He was trying to get under our stars’ skins and tried to talk a lot,†said Theo Lindstein, a fellow Blues prospect and a member of the Brynas team that Stenberg’s BIK Karlskoga squad played in the playoffs. “He usually doesn’t do that so much what I know. He tried, and it was fun.â€
Lindstein and Brynas beat Stenberg and BIK Karlskoga in a five-game series, eventually earning a promotion from the second-tier Allsvenskan to the top-tier SHL. But Stenberg finished the playoffs with seven points in 12 games, more offensive production than he had in 31 SHL games.
“It’s a big step going from juniors to playing in the SHL,†Stenberg said. “I think I had a good year; I learned a lot.â€
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The Blues originally took Stenberg, a left-handed center, with the No. 25 pick in the 2023 draft, one of three first-rounders from that year. ºüÀêÊÓƵ also selected Dalibor Dvorsky at No. 10 and Lindstein at No. 29.
Among blue-chip Blues prospects, Stenberg can be forgotten sometimes. He hasn’t turned pro like Zack Bolduc and Zach Dean. He doesn’t have the contractual intrigue or geographical proximity like Jimmy Snuggerud does. He doesn’t have the eye-popping stats like Dvorsky does.
But Stenberg has been steady, including nine points in seven games for Sweden at the World Junior Championship.
“There’s another guy that had a great World Juniors,†Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said. “It was fun to watch. It’s fun to be a part of that World Juniors, and going over there, and everyone says that all your ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues prospects keep scoring.â€
Stenberg should again be on the Swedish team at the World Juniors in Ottawa, and he and Lindstein were named to the country’s summer showcase team that will play games later this month against the United States, Canada and Finland.
Stenberg’s progress this season, though, could be measured by his performance for Malmo in the SHL.
In the SHL last year, Stenberg played for Frolunda, a traditionally strong team that finished fourth in the 14-team league. He managed just 11:38 of ice time per game with Frolunda and saw just 3:34 of ice time in the lone playoff game he dressed for.
Malmo, meanwhile, finished in 12th place.
“I think it’s a better opportunity for me to get a bigger role and play more minutes,†Stenberg said.
During Blues prospect camp, Stenberg played frequently on a line with Snuggerud (Tanner Dickinson and Adam Jecho rotated in as the third member on the line) and played his customary involved-in-everything game.
When there was a puck on the boards, he was there. When there was a net-front battle, he stuck his nose in. He set up teammates. He found open space.
What did Stenberg take away from his first year as a professional?
“The size is the big difference; you have to be stronger,†Stenberg said. “You have to make good decisions all over the ice. You have to play good in the D-zone. It’s really important when you come up to the SHL, you have to be good in the D-zone to be able to play. I think I learned I was getting better and better all over the ice.â€
Taylor added: “Understanding that every play on the ice matters. You give up a puck in a certain area, it can cost you or your team spends 30-40 seconds in their own zone. It’s understanding the details and importance of what they cost the team.â€
As a first-round pick, Stenberg is eligible to come over to North America to play in the AHL but will instead remain in Europe.
- Blues prospect Quinton Burns was named to Canada’s roster for the World Juniors Summer Showcase on Tuesday. He joins Stenberg, Lindstein, Paul Fischer (USA), Lukas Fischer (USA) and Colin Ralph (USA) as players who will represent their countries from July 28-Aug. 3.