Nikita Susuyev (our seventh round Russian pick last year) has more offensive flair than Vorobyov (was rated as a third round talent), but he's signed to his Russian team until 25/26 (the reason why he fell along with his lack of a 200 foot game). Someone to watch, though.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with the performance of our Russian prospects. A little pissed that Koromyslov has been relegated to the VHL after playing 29 games in the KHL as a 19 year old, but I'm sure they have their reasons. I know Vorobyov is 21, but to be on an awful team both in games won and points for players, he's scored at an ok clip. He's eclipsed by a 20 year old on the team (only 2 points more in 9 more games) but the guy was a 4th rounder as opposed to the flyer we took on him in the 7th. Susuyev is only 18, but the scouting report doesn't look great on him. I'll be interested to see how he develops in the next 2-3 years, see if he starts to process the game a bit quicker and finish off his flashy plays.
Some players find another level whenever they don their nation's colors. Few prospects in recent years have done so quite like Stenberg (thescore:///nhl/players/13835).
As captain at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he scored five goals and nine points in five games. He also matched Sweden's record with seven goals and 16 points at the 2023 Under-18s, again as team captain.
And yet, between those remarkable performances, Stenberg has been good but not great in the Swedish men's and junior leagues. That's why he was available for the St. Louis Blues at 25th overall in June's draft.
The tournament hosts have numerous high-end threats up front and on the back end. Sweden doesn't need Stenberg to be a dominant threat as he's been in the past for his country to contend for a gold medal.
But if Stenberg finds that next level as he's done so often with the Tre Kronor on his chest, Sweden will transform into a potential juggernaut with a well-rounded group on
defense and a deep forward core.
I hopeful Stenberg will find that level during the WJ, but during his regular season play in the SHL I think we need to keep in perspective his performance. There are only 3 players ahead of him that are in his age group: ASP, David Edstrom, and Anton Wahlberg. Currently , Stenberg has played 22 games and averages 12:22/game (6 points). ASP is averaging 18:45/game (13 points), Edstrom 13:02 (10 points on same team as Stenberg), and Wahlberg 16:14/game (7 points). I can't say what these kids games are like besides ASP who is an offensive defenseman, but I'm guessing Stenberg is sort of relegated as a checking forward because of his tenacity and good 2-way play. I think he's doing perfectly fine right now and may overtake the other two forwards when it's all said and done.
I'll be much more interested to see what he does next year in whatever league he's in, but if he captains Sweden during the WJ again, I'm not going to have a single worry about him right now. All this to say that you're right, if he finds that next gear, this Sweden team is going to be REALLY hard to beat.
