{"id":1002120,"date":"2026-08-15T09:43:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T09:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1002120\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T09:43:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T09:43:21","slug":"what-ivar-stenberg-can-give-sharks-in-rookie-nhl-season-nbc-sports-bay-area-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1002120\/","title":{"rendered":"What Ivar Stenberg can give Sharks in rookie NHL season \u2013 NBC Sports Bay Area & California"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note:<\/strong>\u00a0Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California\u2019s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now<\/a>, listen to him on the\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now Podcast<\/a>, and follow him on Twitter at\u00a0@Sheng_Peng<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What should the Sharks expect from Ivar Stenberg in his rookie NHL season<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Two NHL scouts, who watched San Jose’s No. 2 overall pick<\/a> in the 2026 draft closely last season in the SHL, World Juniors and World Championships shared their predictions.<\/p>\n

Also, what will it take for the 18-year-old Swedish winger to win the Calder Trophy?<\/p>\n

Scout No. 1 is bullish about Stenberg and his role in his rookie campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be happy with 50-55 points,\u201d he said. \u201cFor sure, a top six [for the Sharks].\u201d<\/p>\n

Scout No. 2, however, thinks the teen will have more of a learning curve.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gets 30-40 points. Top nine and PP2, at times,\u201d he said. \u201cBarracuda, at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stenberg is eligible to shuttle between the NHL and AHL this year.<\/p>\n

In their rookie seasons, 2025’s No. 2 pick, Michael Misa, saw some AHL time on a conditioning assignment, and 2023’s No. 4 pick, Will Smith, arguably could\u2019ve used some time down there. The No. 1 pick in 2024, Macklin Celebrini, of course, was a different animal.<\/p>\n

In addition, unlike Celebrini, Smith and Misa\u2019s rookie campaigns, these Sharks are expecting to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, so Stenberg should have a higher bar to stay in the lineup.<\/p>\n

What will keep Stenberg in the NHL all year?<\/p>\n

Scout No. 1 likes Stenberg\u2019s complete game.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeed and natural offensive sense and skill with no real deficiency that would keep him from playing,\u201d he said. \u201cLike no coach could complain about what he brings. You can find a spot for him anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stenberg doesn\u2019t appear to have<\/a> quite the red flags about his defense, pace or strength that most 18-year-olds possess, even those that exceptional prospects like Smith and Misa had.<\/p>\n

But Stenberg also might not have quite the ability that allowed the likes of recent No. 1 picks like Matthew Schaefer, Celebrini and Connor Bedard to flourish as 18-year-olds in the best league in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not blow-you-away, high-end [skill] at times like other top prospects,\u201d Scout No. 1 said, \u201cbut it\u2019s just a solid up-and-down tool-set.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not a knock on the fabulously talented Stenberg, it\u2019s more a statement of the rarefied air that Celebrini and company occupy.<\/p>\n

This scout compared Stenberg to another No. 1 pick, who has carved out an indispensable role in the shadow of offensive powerhouses Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis game feels almost a little [Ryan] Nugent-Hopkins,\u201d Scout No. 1 said.<\/p>\n

Nugent-Hopkins was the first-overall pick in 2011, who has had a rock-solid, but not spectacular, career.<\/p>\n

Scout No. 2 compared Stenberg to Colorado Avalanche mainstay Gabriel Landeskog<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s more hard skill, more F.U. skill than [Lucas] Raymond,\u201d he said, about another common Stenberg comp. \u201cBut not as creative.\u201d<\/p>\n

For what it\u2019s worth, Landeskog was the No. 2 pick of the 2011 draft, after Nugent-Hopkins. But Landeskog edged runner-up Nugent-Hopkins for the 2012 Calder Trophy.<\/p>\n

If Stenberg can reach 50 points<\/a>, that should put him at least in contention for Rookie of the Year. But he\u2019ll probably have to top 60-plus to be a favorite.<\/p>\n

In the salary-cap era, 14 forwards, from Alex Ovechkin to Bedard, have won the Calder. They\u2019ve averaged 67 points, on 28 goals and 39 assists.<\/p>\n

Matty Beniers (2023), Kirill Kaprizov (2021) and Landeskog (2012) did take home Rookie of the Year at 50-something points.<\/p>\n

Can Stenberg surpass these more grounded comps? Good thing, unlike in past seasons, a deeper Sharks squad isn\u2019t counting on teenagers to carry the load.<\/p>\n

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t