F Ivar Stenberg - Frölunda HC, U16 Region (2026 Draft)

GermanSpitfire

EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Jul 20, 2020
12,398
22,445
www.mckeenshockey.com

The younger brother of 2023 high-end Swedish talent Otto Stenberg looks to also be a promising player going forward. Put up impressive totals in the Swedish u16 regional league as a 14-year-old. Should note he is a late 2007 born also. It will be interesting to see how he progresses moving forward.
 

Tube Skates

Registered User
May 12, 2016
1,043
741

The younger brother of 2023 high-end Swedish talent Otto Stenberg looks to also be a promising player going forward. Put up impressive totals in the Swedish u16 regional league as a 14-year-old. Should note he is a late 2007 born also. It will be interesting to see how he progresses moving forward.
He’s put in a full year and no update on him. Anyone have information on him?
 

Ohlle

Registered User
Aug 19, 2017
40
33
I saw Ivar Stenberg & Max Westergård dominate the U18 playoff game against Färjestad a couple of weeks ago. Shit, they are good... Ivar can do pretty much anything he want on the same level he play. I think his potential as of right now is greater than his older brother, Otto. Otto is an awesome player though.
 

BKarchitect

Registered User
Oct 12, 2017
8,174
14,604
Kansas City, MO
Finished with 4 goals and 10 points at Hlinka while not draft eligible until 2026. Ironically, almost identical to how his brother performed at Hlinka two years prior, though that Otto was draft eligible that next spring.

If Ivar is basically Otto with a bit more offensive upside, he sure seems like a pretty safe bet to be a first rounder in 2026.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pavel Buchnevich

VictorLustig

Registered User
Feb 8, 2012
8,872
2,927
Lots of skill like his brother. Probably slightly better hockey sense, while Otto is a better finisher (yet to show it among men).

Hearing that the third brother, Knut Stenberg, is a quite spectacular offensive defenseman. 09-born.

Yeah Ivar is a bit more advanced in his puck handling skills and playmaking. Otto is more powerful and has a better shot. They both have excellent compete level, I think that separates them from a lot of other prospects.
 

Gazewithin

Registered User
Aug 22, 2024
22
22
I think the sky is the limit for this player. I have always been a fan of Otto, but I love Ivars game. Still early, but he is number 2 amongst the 07s for me right now, even though he is not eligible until 2026. At this point I think he is significantly ahead of the "bigger names" we have been hyping up in this age group.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hockeyprospects9

Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
59,670
26,373
New York
I think the sky is the limit for this player. I have always been a fan of Otto, but I love Ivars game. Still early, but he is number 2 amongst the 07s for me right now, even though he is not eligible until 2026. At this point I think he is significantly ahead of the "bigger names" we have been hyping up in this age group.
How does he compare to William Eklund this far out from his draft? That is the player that comes to mind when the Swedes discuss Ivar.
 

Gazewithin

Registered User
Aug 22, 2024
22
22
How does he compare to William Eklund this far out from his draft? That is the player that comes to mind when the Swedes discuss Ivar.
Offensively Stenberg is definitely ahead, but I did slightly underate Eklund at the same age, because I did not see him transition so well into the SHL in his draft year as he did. Eklunds game, while less impressive in some aspects, is a lot more easy to predict(although in retrospect for me apparently) when it comes to projecting for the pros. He mixed in center and was slightly more well rounded. But he also improved quickly(just like I think Victor Eklund had a big jump last season) the closer to the draft he got. So I prefer Ivar Stenberg, but theres reasons I could be off with that, and could change.

Will be interesting to see if he keeps smacking the j20s, and how many games and how much ice he might get to see at the SHL level later in the year, since that is always a lottery of misfortune when it comes to swedish prospects.
 

Gazewithin

Registered User
Aug 22, 2024
22
22
Should be another 3 points in the stats sheet today, assuming they correct the assists on the OT winner. Takeaway leading to a game winner, a coast to coast goal and another one on volley. Just doing his thang.
 

Frk It

Mo Seider Less Problems
Jul 27, 2010
36,839
15,682
21 pts in 8 games is wild... is he going to get a look at a higher level soon?
 

Plastic Joseph

Unregistered User
Mar 21, 2014
2,007
475
I think the sky is the limit for this player. I have always been a fan of Otto, but I love Ivars game. Still early, but he is number 2 amongst the 07s for me right now, even though he is not eligible until 2026. At this point I think he is significantly ahead of the "bigger names" we have been hyping up in this age group.
I remember watching him in the U17s last year and thinking "wow this guy might be the most talented player on Sweden and he's a late bday" but then when I would read about the 07 class a lot of posters didn't have him in their top group of players.

Seems like it was not a 1 off tournament and he is in fact rapidly improving. Could challenge to be a really high pick in 2026 I would say
 

Gazewithin

Registered User
Aug 22, 2024
22
22
I remember watching him in the U17s last year and thinking "wow this guy might be the most talented player on Sweden and he's a late bday" but then when I would read about the 07 class a lot of posters didn't have him in their top group of players.

Seems like it was not a 1 off tournament and he is in fact rapidly improving. Could challenge to be a really high pick in 2026 I would say
Don't know which of the events you are refering to, but I think there are a couple reasons, good and bad.

Popular conseus on prospects usually takes some time to change, which can for example be seen in how long players who were very dominant/productive very early can stagnate or become relatively weaker to their peers, and still have a very high standing for a long time. Ivar wasn't dominant at TV-pucken, I don't think he played for Sweden at all in his u16 year, and didn't have as pretty of a statline as some of his peers that developed earlier. I probably was higher on him than average, mostly because I kind of assumed he would at least get closer to his brother in terms of the physical attributes, and he was definitely skilled even early on. As soon as he got more and more power in his legs he rapidly improved relative to his peers, and his confidence clearly took a jump as well.

And to be fair to a lot of people, you can't always assume those things will come. Just look at Filip Ekberg, who was way more advanced in terms of gamesense very early on, but whose physical tools have been close to completely stagnant for years now, and due to the pace and skill difference now, doesn't even look smarter anymore(or at least at the end of last season, haven't watched him in the OHL this year).

I believed Stenberg would probably end up as a more skilled version of his brother at the beginning of last year, maybe slightly less wellrounded. His constant improvement has been absolutely bananas to see, I did definitely not expect him to be this good at this point. Very good example of multiple things, the potency of skill and intensity, the importance of not locking into point production at an early age when evaluating talent, and just how much different development can be for players who gain their growth a bit later.
 

Plastic Joseph

Unregistered User
Mar 21, 2014
2,007
475
Don't know which of the events you are refering to, but I think there are a couple reasons, good and bad.

Popular conseus on prospects usually takes some time to change, which can for example be seen in how long players who were very dominant/productive very early can stagnate or become relatively weaker to their peers, and still have a very high standing for a long time. Ivar wasn't dominant at TV-pucken, I don't think he played for Sweden at all in his u16 year, and didn't have as pretty of a statline as some of his peers that developed earlier. I probably was higher on him than average, mostly because I kind of assumed he would at least get closer to his brother in terms of the physical attributes, and he was definitely skilled even early on. As soon as he got more and more power in his legs he rapidly improved relative to his peers, and his confidence clearly took a jump as well.

And to be fair to a lot of people, you can't always assume those things will come. Just look at Filip Ekberg, who was way more advanced in terms of gamesense very early on, but whose physical tools have been close to completely stagnant for years now, and due to the pace and skill difference now, doesn't even look smarter anymore(or at least at the end of last season, haven't watched him in the OHL this year).

I believed Stenberg would probably end up as a more skilled version of his brother at the beginning of last year, maybe slightly less wellrounded. His constant improvement has been absolutely bananas to see, I did definitely not expect him to be this good at this point. Very good example of multiple things, the potency of skill and intensity, the importance of not locking into point production at an early age when evaluating talent, and just how much different development can be for players who gain their growth a bit later.
the World U17 challenge
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gazewithin

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad