Stenberg Quietly Establishing Presence Amid McKenna Hype
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While Toronto focuses on the first overall pick, San Jose's Ivar Stenberg is carving out a versatile role with the Sharks.
As the San Jose Sharks prepare to visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, the spotlight remains fixed on first overall pick Gavin McKenna. However, as Sportsnet first reported, second overall pick Ivar Stenberg is establishing himself as a polished asset for San Jose.
Through eight games, Stenberg has recorded two goals and four assists, with the majority of that production (2G-3A) coming on the first power play unit. According to Sportsnet, Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky has shown confidence in Stenberg's reliability, frequently deploying his line against elite competition. In a recent matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, Stenberg played 18:09, with nearly all of his even-strength shifts spent containing the top line of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Vasily Podkolzin—a group that failed to score against Stenberg's line.
Stenberg's integration into the lineup has been steady. After debuting with 13:35 of ice time against Florida, his average has risen to 15:51 per game, surpassing McKenna's average of 14:23. While McKenna has been utilized as a middle-six forward and recently moved to the first power play unit due to a lower-body injury to John Tavares, Stenberg has been a fixture on San Jose's top power play unit from the start.
Despite a minus-6 rating, Sportsnet notes Stenberg's commitment to the defensive side of the puck and his ability to contribute in overtime, citing a calculated play during a game against the St. Louis Blues where he set up Darnell Nurse.