The St. Louis Blues are halfway through a nightmare of a 2025-26 campaign. For a team that started the season with so many high hopes for playoff contention, nothing short of a 10-game winning streak will save this team. Right now, the Blues seem to be getting worse by the week following a blowout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Their dysfunction began in the preseason, but that wasn't a time to worry too much. Preseason games don't count, and fans weren't panicking. Since the season began, however, Robert Thomas, Jordan Binnington, Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, and Cam Fowler all simultaneously ran out of talent. At least in the 2025-26 season.
The Blues have been so bad, they are currently 32nd in goals scored with 110 and 31st in goals allowed with 151. Thomas has been their top point producer with 10 goals and 30 points in 40 games. Defenseman Justin Faulk is their leading goal scorer, with 11 goals and 21 points through 44 contests.
So the Blues needed somebody to keep fans interested while they steamroll toward the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes. Fortunately for them, rookie forward Otto Stenberg has taken the mantle across his first 10 NHL games.
Otto Stenberg's first 10 games have been memorable and they made history
Despite having just 10 games of NHL experience, the 20-year-old already has six points and a goal. He netted that first goal in Wednesday night's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and made history in the process. Bruce Miles of NHL.com had the inside scoop.
Miles wrote, "Stenberg (20 years, 223 days) became the second-youngest Swedish player to score their first NHL goal with the Blues, following Patrik Berglund (20 years, 133 days on Oct. 13, 2008)."
Berglund also debuted for the Blues in his age-20 season and was a solid contributor. His best season came in 2010-11 when he played in 81 contests, snagged 52 points, and potted 22 goals. He also led the league with a 23.0 shooting percentage after scoring 17 goals in the truncated 2012-13 season across 48 games.
Otto Stenberg has looked every bit the part of an NHL-ready player
While Stenberg will have his ups and downs, just like any NHL rookie, he's off to a great start. Besides his point total, Stenberg has a plus-5 across 13:40 of average total ice time. He has also won 57.1 percent of his face-offs. Not bad, considering many rookies struggle at the face-off dot.
Stenberg also isn't afraid to play a physical game, with 20 hits so far. Impressive, considering his 5'11, 188-lb frame. Another promising stat is that he has been on the ice for seven goals at even strength, good for a 17.9 on-ice shooting percentage. Defensively, he's rocking a 96.9 on-ice save percentage, and has been on the ice at even strength for just two goals allowed.
With his fearless play, willingness for contact, and the fact he knows when to be in position while in the defensive zone, Stenberg looks like he's going to be a solid two-way forward with the potential to evolve into a great player.
He also takes up a spot in the forward group that Zach Bolduc left behind after the Blues traded him to the Montreal Canadiens for Logan Mailloux. Mailloux hasn't panned out, with just two points in 29 games, with a minus-19. So, getting a youngster who has been filling the void Bolduc left behind is one of the better scenarios Blues fans could have hoped for.