BUFFALO, N.Y. — When the Blackhawks drafted Swedish forward Anton Frondell a year ago, they knew he would likely return for one more season in his home country before making the NHL leap, and that’s exactly what happened.
Ivar Stenberg, arguably the odds-on favorite at the moment to be the Hawks’ fourth overall pick this year, has no such plans. He believes he’s ready for the NHL immediately.
“I want to play over here and play in the best league in the world,” Stenberg, a soft-spoken kid with bright eyes, said Friday at the NHL scouting combine.
That sentiment was recently reinforced during the world championships. Playing on Sweden’s top forward line alongside Red Wings star Lucas Raymond, Stenberg recorded eight points in eight games while Raymond — coincidentally the fourth overall pick in 2020 — racked up 11 points.
“I was around NHL guys at the worlds, and…you get more confidence every day you’re around them,” Stenberg added Saturday. “[You] feel like you can compete against them and play with them.”
Stenberg looks like an ideal fit for the Hawks as a well-rounded playmaking winger, especially now that general manager Kyle Davidson has proclaimed Frondell, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar will all play center next season.
Stenberg said Frondell speaks glowingly about the Hawks’ organization, and it would be objectively satisfying to see the two of them play together in Chicago. Stenberg, Frondell, Islanders prospect Victor Eklund and projected 2026 top-15 pick Viggo Bjorck are all friends as well as headliners of Sweden’s up-and-coming generation.
One of Ivar Stenberg’s prettiest highlights from the world championships: pic.twitter.com/NoVZiF4wwi
— Ben Pope’s Video Clips (@BenPopeCSTclips) June 6, 2026
Stenberg’s terrific season extended beyond international tournaments. He admitted he surprised himself with his production in the Swedish Hockey League, tallying 33 points in 43 games for Frolunda — marking one of the SHL’s best-ever seasons by an 18-year-old.
Raymond, who also grew up playing for Frolunda, has been a role model for Stenberg, who especially admires Raymond’s ability to read the ice and carry the puck. Stenberg actually blew Raymond’s draft-year production (10 points in 33 games) out of the water.
They’re similarly sized, too. Raymond is 5-11 and 186 pounds, while Stenberg is listed at 5-11 and 183 pounds. He opted out of testing at the combine due to illness, so those figures weren’t updated.
If the Hawks land Stenberg, they would obviously love if he developed into the next Raymond, considering the latter has now eclipsed 70 points in three consecutive NHL seasons.
That’s far from guaranteed, but Stenberg mentioned his hockey IQ as one trait he expects to transfer well to the NHL level. His agile skating, quick wrist-shot release, smart passing, consistent work ethic and defensive responsibility are also acclaimed, although he said he needs to shoot more often.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody have the IQ that guy does,” said top draft-eligible defenseman Chase Reid. “Off the rush, he lays pucks into areas that most guys would never see, and he’s really good at slipping [through defenses].”
Despite Stenberg’s average size, he’s known as a tough matchup in board battles.
“He’s not afraid to go to any of the hard areas,” FloHockey scouting expert Chris Peters said in May. “He’s not afraid to take a hit to make a play. He’ll dig that puck out, and he’s got the hands to do something with it once he fishes it out.”
The only difference between Stenberg and projected first overall pick Gavin McKenna might be slightly lower star potential.
So what stands between the Hawks and Stenberg? It’s really just the Sharks and Canucks, who hold the second and third picks and who both took Stenberg out to dinners this week in Buffalo.
It appears increasingly plausible that Stenberg, Reid and center Caleb Malhotra could be the 2-3-4 picks in some order, leaving the Hawks to simply take the last remaining one at No. 4.
