Stenberg says Sharks have something really good going on
Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg says the San Jose Sharks have "something really good going on" after drafting him No. 2 overall Friday night. The top prospect joins a rising core led by Macklin Celebrini and immediately backed the rebuild that nearly pushed San Jose into the 2026 playoffs.
Key Takeaways
- Stenberg told NHL.com the Sharks have "something really good going on" after a busy first round at KeyBank Center.
- San Jose took Stenberg at No. 2, defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9, and Ryan Lin at No. 21 in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
- Stenberg called Celebrini "one of the best in the world" and said lining up with him would be "sick."
- The Sharks moved up from No. 9 to No. 2 in the draft lottery before Toronto took Gavin McKenna first overall.
- Celebrini finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points as San Jose missed the playoffs by four points.
Why did Stenberg praise the Sharks on draft night?
Hours after PWHL star Laila Edwards announced his name from the Buffalo stage, Stenberg framed San Jose as the right landing spot. "They have something really good going on," he told NHL.com, pointing to the young talent already on the roster.
The Sharks have picked nine players in the first round over the past four drafts, including four top-four selections: Will Smith (No. 4 in 2023), Celebrini (No. 1 in 2024), Michael Misa (No. 2 in 2025), and now Stenberg. That pipeline is why the Swedish forward sounded sold before he even signed a contract.
Who did the Sharks draft besides Stenberg?
San Jose did not stop at one headline name. The club used the No. 9 pick on North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, then traded up to select Vancouver Giants blueliner Ryan Lin at No. 21, per Sportsnet.
Verhoeff called the next 10 to 15 years "pretty special" in San Jose, while Lin said the organization is "rich with" young talent. All three rookies imagined sharing the ice with Celebrini, who finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games this season.
How does Stenberg fit with Celebrini?
Stenberg could slide onto Celebrini's line as a left wing. "That would be sick," he said. "Just give him the puck, and he will fix it. He's a special player."
The matchup is not theoretical. Stenberg had eight points in eight games for Sweden at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, where he played on the top line and faced Celebrini. Stenberg also spoke by phone with Celebrini, general manager Mike Grier, and fellow Swede Alexander Wennberg after hearing his name.
What makes this a celebrity moment for Sharks fans?
Stenberg arrived with pedigree. He posted 33 points in 43 SHL games for Frolunda, the most by an 18-year-old in the league since Daniel and Henrik Sedin in 1998-99. His brother Otto went No. 25 to St. Louis in 2023, and Ivar kept photos from that night inside his draft-night suit.
For a franchise that missed the playoffs seven straight seasons, the quote lands as more than hype. San Jose contended ahead of schedule and finished four points out of the Western Conference second wild card. As more celebrity breaking news cycles through draft weekend, Stenberg's endorsement signals the Sharks rebuild may finally have star power to match the buzz.