The New Jersey Devils currently have a 28-29-2 record with 23 games remaining, sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference alongside crosstown rival New York Rangers. If the Devils end up with a top pick, they will have eyes set on plenty of players, including Swedish future star Ivar Stenberg. A winger who has been compared to players such as Lucas Raymond, he seems to be the most NHL-ready prospect coming out of the draft.
Ivar Stenberg has had an impressive career in Sweden, playing two seasons in the Sweden J20 SuperElit for Vastra Frolunda Jr. Stenberg had 61 points in 36 regular-season games played during those two seasons. He then went to play for Frolunda HC in the SHL, having just three points in his first 25 games, but turned it around this season with 32 points in 37 games. As things stand, Stenberg is currently 3rd all-time in points in a season among draft-eligible skaters in SHL history. He has surpassed players such as Elias Lindholm, Leo Carlsson, William Eklund, Victor Hedman, and Rasmus Dahlin. Ivar still has a couple of games to possibly be at the top. With six games left, he needs 10 points to tie Daniel Sedin and 11 points to surpass him.
Player Profile
Ivar Stenberg is an all-around complete player who looks to be ready to play in the NHL day one. The Swedish winger has a high IQ that you don't see quite often from young prospects. His offensive upside is at an all-time high; the proof is in the pudding when you look at the SHL stats that I mentioned. Stenberg is currently producing at a 0.86 points-per-game rate, which isn't very common to see for a young player going up against more experienced players in the SHL.
An upside Stenberg has on a player like Gavin McKenna is his strength, being able to leverage along the boards is an advantage in the NHL. Another reason why Ivar Stenberg is viewed as the most NHL-ready prospect in this draft, never skates away from contact to continue and improve plays. The numbers compared to McKenna may not be comparable, but his play on ice does look a lot better. Being a physical two-player that obtains both playmaking and scoring skills is what gets you high on draft boards, and possibly the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.