Sweden will boast several high picks in this upcoming draft, particularly at the forward position. Leading the charge in this Swedish assault undoubtedly will be Ivar Stenberg, who averages nearly a point per game as a 17-year-old in Sweden’s top professional league. His scoring rate eclipses the offensive production in their draft years of high-end players such as Daniel & Henrik Sedin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Elias Lindholm. Stenberg has been rated a top 5 pick all season, and currently is ranked the number 1 overall prospect per Tony Ferrari at The Hockey News. Stenberg will represent Team Sweden at this season’s World Junior Championship. He will join other elite players such as fellow draft-eligible forward & potential top 10 pick Viggo Bjork, as well as forward Anton Frondell (3rd overall pick by CHI in 2025).
As draft-eligibles Stenberg & Bjork are both competing in the WJC later this month, neither of them is present at this week’s World Jr. A Challenge in Trois Rivieres, Quebec (Stenberg participated in this event last season). However, there are a number of excellent draft-eligible players representing Sweden here. Although there are numerous forwards to discuss, the player making the biggest impression on me is d-man Malte Gustafsson. To go along with Gustafsson’s size (6’4″, 200 lbs.), the potential top 15 pick is a smooth skater with excellent puck skills and shut-down defensive ability.
There are several high-end forwards to discuss as well, starting with projected first-round pick Marcus Nordmark. Nordmark has 4 points (1G 3A) this week and numerous other scoring chances, displaying his immense offensive prowess. He is joined by projected 2nd/3rd rounder Oscar Holmertz, who has yet to impose his considerable puck skills in posting only one goal so far at this event. Finally, comparatively unheralded forwards Alexander Command (6th/7th rounder) and Adam Andersson (4th/5th rounder) may have improved their draft stock with their significant offensive contributions this week, with four points apiece thus far. In particular, Andersson is a very defensively responsible two-way center, and has the size (6’4″ 205 lbs.) and physical presence teams covet in handling the rough going.