One of the St. Louis Blues' youngest wingers will enter into the 2026-27 training camp a little different than the one who turned pro just a season ago. Otto Stenberg, 21, not only played his first full season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, but got his first true look and feel of the NHL. With 32 games of experience now under his belt, Stenberg knows what the true pace and discipline the league takes to remain a season-long player. However, given the recent acquisitions during the offseason, Stenberg could still be among the players on the outside looking in for a way to crack the lineup.
Along with Blues forwards Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud, Pavel Buchnevich, Dylan Holloway, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Jake Neighbours, the Blues have added the likes of Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish to the mix, eight of the top-nine forward spots have seemingly been claimed. At this time, there is not an obvious spot on the opening night lineup for Stenberg in St. Louis.
A top role is waiting in Springfield
The most likely outcome for Stenberg is to begin the year with the Thunderbirds in a top-six role with heavy power play usage, and increased responsibility to help continue developing for the eventual full-time jump to the NHL. According to InStat Hockey, Stenberg averaged 16:25 TOI with the Thunderbirds throughout the season, scoring four goals and 17 points in 36 games. The season was an overall plateau after producing 17 points during the 24-25 season as well, in two additional games after coming over from Sweden midway through the season.
By starting with Springfield and allowing him to play roughly 75 percent of his games in the AHL, it could allow for him to increase his points to somewhere between 12-15 goals and 24-30 assists. Stenberg will likely be a top call-up option for the Blues, and should he play in a similar third-line role he played during the 2025-26 season, the Blues could see him add another two-to-four goals and five-to-eight assists. If all of this projects, the Swede could find himself producing 50+ points in roughly 75 games.
However, if there is a substantial injury that occurs in the NHL, Stenberg could find himself in more of a 50/50 split. He could then see somewhere around 25 points in the AHL, a respectable, half-point-per-game pace. More NHL games then still keeps him hovering around 13-14 minutes per night and around the 35-45 point total mark, but with more NHL seasoning.
Patience for the bigger picture
With the crowded depth on the wing, the Blues do not have to rush or have a sense of urgency with Stenberg's development. The 2023 first-round draft pick's game has really never been one that has been built on jaw-dropping offensive numbers, but on strong hockey IQ, a high-compete level and 200-foot game.
St. Louis does not need Stenberg to force his way onto the roster come Oct. They need him to continue to develop into a player ready to step into a middle-six role and stay there, instead of being the player who bounces between the AHL and NHL indefinitely
Add us as a preferred source on Google