A Swedish Connection? The St. Louis Blues sign fourth Swedish player, locking in first-round pick Otto Stenberg
By David Crum
Maybe it’s just the blue and yellow connection… The St. Louis Blues announced Wednesday evening that Swedish forward Otto Stenberg signed with the team.
Stenberg, the 25th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, signed a 3-year entry-level contract valued at $2.85 million.
Stenberg, who turns 19 in late May, garnered recognition as a top prospect, ranking as high as No. 22 in the 2023 draft class. “Stenberg regularly broke down and dangled past opponents in space, never shying away from an opportunity to put a defender in the spin cycle,” wrote one scout.
The St. Louis Blues have recently added four Swedish players to their roster. Samuel Johannesson, Marcus Sylvegard, Simon Robertsson, and Stenberg have all signed with the Blues in the past few days.
Stenberg, known for his versatility, can play the center position, showcasing his talent on the ice, though he is expected to officially start as a winger.
Named captain for Team Sweden, he earned a silver medal in the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship tournament, scoring 5 goals and recording 4 assists in seven games.
Like Robertsson, Stenberg is a young skater with an incredible upside who will need extensive development to earn his spot on a game-day roster.
He has put up impressive numbers at the junior level while also playing sparingly in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). In two years in the SHL, he scored 4 goals, recorded 5 assists, and earned 9 total points in 54 games.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong continues to be occupied with signing young talent and prospects, expecting the players to compete in the upcoming years.
Fans now await the start of the 2024 NHL Draft and the free-agent period to begin on July 1st.
Could the Blues go after another Swedish player in the 2024 NHL Draft? Stay tuned… the colors seem to match.