"Ever since the Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery, there has been a lot of discussion about who they will take. With this being one of the deepest draft classes in years, there are several options for the Leafs to consider. The consensus is that the Leafs will draft forward Gavin McKenna to improve their top six. But they will do their due diligence on the other prospect projected to go in the top five."
"Recently, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was asked about who he wants the Leafs to draft first overall. He said that he wouldn't mind it if they drafted his fellow countryman, Ivar Stenberg. OEL has been very impressed with the forward, calling him a fantastic player who is playing much better than a normal junior-level player. But are these comments enough to sway the Leafs into taking Stenberg with the first overall pick?"
"Stenberg and Ekman-Larsson met this past week, with both of them representing Sweden at the Beijer Hockey Games. During that series, Stenberg has been very impressive, racking up five points in three games. This is right in line with how he performed during the 2025-26 season with the Frolunda HC. In 43 games, he registered 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points. He also logged four assists in the six playoff games he appeared in."
"Stenberg has been praised for his ability to generate offense. He is as good a playmaker as he is a scorer. He's the type of player who will make the same impact whether it's setting up or finishing a play. He also has a high hockey IQ giving him great decision making. This allows him to be effective on defense. While it is not the main part of his game, he's demonstrated the ability to make an impact. Whether it's making the right read or breaking up a past, he should make an impact."
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery and face a deep prospect class with multiple options. A prevailing view is that they will select forward Gavin McKenna to strengthen their top six, while still evaluating other top-five candidates. Oliver Ekman-Larsson was asked who he would want the Leafs to draft first overall and said he would not mind if they chose his fellow countryman Ivar Stenberg. Ekman-Larsson praised Stenberg as a fantastic player performing well beyond typical junior-level expectations. Stenberg impressed at the Beijer Hockey Games with five points in three games and posted 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in 43 games for Frolunda HC, plus four assists in six playoff games. His offense creation, playmaking, scoring, hockey IQ, and defensive effectiveness make him a strong fit for Toronto.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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