The San Jose Sharks went big at the top of the 2026 NHL Draft, using the No. 2 pick to grab Ivar Stenberg, an 18-year-old left wing from Frölunda HC, yesterday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The high-skill Swede joins a Sharks rebuild already anchored by Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa.
According to The New York Times, San Jose made Stenberg the second overall selection after the Toronto Maple Leafs opened the draft by taking Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna at No. 1.
Stenberg's resume: SHL production and international pedigree
Stenberg arrives in the organization with unusual pro experience for an 18-year-old. He posted 11 goals and 22 assists, good for 33 points in 43 Swedish Hockey League games this season, ranking among the top junior scorers in the SHL. He also impressed on the international stage for Sweden, putting up 10 points at the World Junior Championship and producing at the men's World Championship in the same campaign, a run highlighted by Daily Faceoff and scouting outlets across Europe.
How San Jose set the table
The chance to grab Stenberg came from a mix of lottery luck and some front-office dealing. As reported by NHL.com, the Sharks won the second lottery to jump from No. 9 to No. 2. Earlier in the week, they had acquired that No. 9 pick from the Ottawa Senators in a trade that sent William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen and the rights to Brandon Svoboda to Ottawa.
Where he fits in the rebuild
Stenberg now slots into what looks very much like a 23-and-under core. San Jose has been building around Celebrini, Smith, Misa and Collin Graf, and Stenberg gives that group another high-end, offensive-minded winger. In pre-draft analysis, San Jose Hockey Now framed the potential Stenberg pick as a move that could either reinforce the Sharks' forward depth chart for the long haul or become a significant trade chip if the team eventually decides to chase defensive help.
What Stenberg said and what's next
Stenberg told Swedish media he was "very glad" and described going into a bit of a "blackout" when he received the news, then hugging his mother, according to Aftonbladet. Coverage from Daily Faceoff notes that the Sharks and Stenberg will now decide whether he spends another season in the SHL or crosses the Atlantic to join San Jose's development pipeline in North America.
Local reports relayed general manager Mike Grier's pre-draft stance that the club would listen on offers for the No. 2 pick but was comfortable using it to bring in elite young talent if the right deal never materialized. With Stenberg now in the fold, the Sharks head into development camp with another highly regarded prospect to evaluate and fold into their long-term plans, a scenario broken down by NBC Sports Bay Area.
