The Vancouver Canucks have officially clinched the 32nd spot in the NHL standings, securing the best odds (25.5%) at the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Assuming no major moves are made at the podium, the organization holds 10 draft picks and a crucial opportunity to restock a prospect pool that has begun to thin out. With that in mind, we begin our draft profile series.

While the primary focus will remain on players within Vancouver’s likely selection range, we’ll also highlight several notable names over the coming months to provide a full picture of this year’s class.

Today, we turn our attention to the forward who continues to challenge Gavin McKenna for the top spot: Ivar Stenberg. With a versatile, all-around game, many believe that Ivar Stenberg has the most projectable profile.

Few players have put together a more impressive draft-eligible season than Ivar Stenberg. And what makes his season even more notable is that he did so against men among Sweden’s top brass.

Producing at a near two-point-per-game pace at the U20 level as a 16-year-old, Stenberg earned a midseason promotion to the SHL in 2024–25. While the production was modest, the detail in his game — and his ability to compete at that level — was already evident.

Breaking in on a full-time basis this season, he came out of the gate flying to record 24 points in his first 25 games while earning steady minutes on one of the SHL’s top teams. Within just a few games, he established himself as a full-time SHL contributor and, at times, one of Frölunda’s most impactful forwards. He finished with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games, good for a 0.77 points-per-game rate and tops among U20 skaters in SHL scoring. Those numbers not only placed him ahead of players like Anton Frondell and draft-eligible Viggo Björck, but, historically, his production trails only Daniel Sedin among draft-eligible seasons in points per game.

Then came the World Juniors, where Stenberg showcased his talents on the world stage, playing a key role in Sweden’s gold medal run. He produced 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games and consistently drove play, controlled possession, and dictated shifts against his peers. Playing alongside Viggo Björck, it was one of the top performances in recent WJC memory. While some remained hesitant in the McKenna vs. Stenberg conversation, that showing was enough to push his draft stock firmly into the top-tier conversation.

Following the tournament, however, his role at home became less stable. His usage fluctuated, and at times, he was removed from the team’s top power play unit. As expected, his production, along with his draft reputation, cooled down the stretch as McKenna tore up the NCAA ranks in North America.

Even so, he closed the year with a strong foundation in place. While Frölunda exited early in the SHL playoffs, Stenberg led the team with four assists in their brief run. The club also captured the Champions League title earlier in the season, adding a layer of winning pedigree to his resume.

So what makes Ivar Stenberg such a compelling option at the top of the draft? And why might a team consider him over a high-end talent like Gavin McKenna? The answer lies in contrast. Where McKenna brings elite offensive upside but questionable off-puck habits, Stenberg offers a far more complete, detail-driven game as one of the most well-rounded players in the class. He blends high-level skill with a mature, structured game in all three zones and brings his lunch pail to every game, leaving everything he has on the ice shift-by-shift.

Although he doesn’t carry a huge frame, he is built solid and is strong along the boards, protects the puck well, and consistently works to the interior. He supports his linemates, applies pressure on the forecheck, and uses an active stick defensively. It’s these “B-game” qualities that make his profile much more intriguing to those in search of a safe, projectable player at the top end of the draft.

Stenberg is a cerebral skater. He won’t beat defenders with pure explosiveness, but he processes the game quickly and uses intelligent routes, positioning, and puck protection to create advantages. He’ll often cut back into the zone, regroup, and scan before building himself back up the ice with purpose. Once he builds speed, he’s difficult to contain, weaving through traffic before holding onto the puck to maintain possession while he assesses. He’s no burner, but he can generate decent straight-line speed, and couple that with strong edges to manipulate and freeze defenders.

Once in the zone, he leans more toward playmaking. Much like McKenna, Stenberg prefers to slow the game down, scan his options, and distribute. He makes plays in motion, constantly pushing the pace and protecting the puck. He’s often the driver on the power play, facilitating through the half wall and working the cycle game with patience and precision.

As a shooter, he’s more placement-focused than power-driven. His release is less about finding corners and more about creating opportunities deliberately. That’s not to say that he can’t rip the puck to the top corner, but he’s likely to project as more of a mid-to-short range shooter. While his release does carry some snap, there are times when he could benefit from getting shots off quicker, as he tends to use a drag-and-release that takes time to pull the trigger. Once in tight, he carries soft hands capable of tucking soft ones past netminders.

He’s one of the smartest forwards in this class, and it’s his naturally all-around ability that makes him one of the most intriguing options from this year’s class. While we aren’t convinced he has that true game-breaking potential, he looks every bit like a top-line forward who can contribute in all situations and drive winning hockey.

For teams drafting at the top, the decision may ultimately come down to philosophy: Do you swing on elite upside, or do you take a slight dip in upside and snag the player who checks every box? We remain steady on McKenna at first, but certainly see the intrigue behind a Stenberg selection.