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57 minutes ago
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Ivar Stenberg doesn't yet know who he'll play for in the NHL.
But ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, in which Stenberg should be a top-five pick and could go as high as No. 1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Swedish winger is taking part in the IIHF World Championships.
Stenberg didn't waste long to make sure Sweden's first opponent, Team Canada, noticed him.
He went to the penalty box early for a crosscheck on Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
It was certainly a painful one for Nurse, who hit the boards at a tough angle:
Ivar Stenberg gets a two-minute cross-checking penalty for this hit on Darnell Nurse.#MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/CmD8ccXG1L
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 15, 2026MORE: Mitch Marner couldn't even believe the crazy goal he scored
NHL teams won't be bothered by this moment from Stenberg. Everyone takes penalties.
They'll be more focused on how he fits into the speed of the game against a quality Canada roster. The Canadians only have two players from their Olympic team, Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini, but are still filled with quality NHL players.
If Stenberg can look calm and composed in this environment, it'll go a long way toward making him a quality draft pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
He's unlikely to leapfrog Gavin McKenna to be the Maple Leafs' first overall pick, but Stenberg could factor in soon after that.
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