Otto Stenberg could've been on the St. Louis Blues radar since before training camp kicked off. And despite a poor showing from the Blues in their most recent preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Stenberg stood out.
No, he didn't record any points, but you don't need to be a scoring artist if you plan on showing up constantly for the coaching staff and front office. Stenberg drove that point home when he recorded a takeaway, landed a body check, and blocked two shots.
If that didn't give you defensive forward vibes, I don't know what will. He also ended the 4-1 thrashing with a plus-minus of 0, indicating solid play in the defensive zone. So, while the Blues are stacked this season all over their lineup, and players like Justin Carbonneau are making their presence known, let's not count out Stenberg.
Otto Stenberg's shown he can handle the North American game's demands
Following his stint with the Malmo Redhawks, where he put up an underwhelming six points and three goals in 25 contests, the former 2023 first-round pick jumped to North America and logged a respectable five goals and 17 points in 38 games. Not bad for someone on his first rodeo in North America.
Stenberg also had impressive runs on the international stage, with 21 points and five goals in 18 games. These numbers show that he has the potential to be a playmaker in the bottom six. That's a role he can grow into should he make the team and he gets more used to North American ice.
Per Elite Prospects, terms like "offensive forward" and "playmaker" were used to describe him. So the fact Stenberg's showing up and playing well defensively so far on North American ice shows us he can handle a three-zone game and grow into a complete player for this organization.
What's the likeliest route for Otto Stenberg?
You probably won't see Stenberg stick around the big club since there's no room, and he'd be better off seasoning his skills in Springfield. But that doesn't mean he won't create problems and bring about tough decisions for Blues management, who could at least look to find creative ways to give him time with the big club.
My projection? They'll keep letting him grow in Springfield, but if injuries strike and Stenberg keeps putting up consistent play, it wouldn't surprise me if he's wearing the Blue Note by January. At least for a few games.