What Did NHL Scouts Think of Stenberg’s Rookie Faceoff?

It’s always hard to use the Rookie Faceoff as a measuring stick for immediate NHL impact.

The difference in the level of competition — the Rookie Faceoff might be between NCAA-to-AHL caliber? — is just too wide.

So what’s that mean for top San Jose Sharks prospect Ivar Stenberg? Can he help the big club this year? San Jose Hockey Now spoke with multiple NHL scouts about their impressions of Stenberg at the Rookie Faceoff.

The 2026 No. 2 pick had two goals in the games, both in an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

San Jose Barracuda head coach John McCarthy offered a smart yardstick for what this all means.

Last Rookie Faceoff, Collin Graf was something of a surprise inclusion on the San Jose Sharks roster, after a successful rookie campaign split between the NHL and AHL.

How did Graf use the rookie tournament as a runway to a breakout 21-goal campaign with the Sharks?

“He was the best player in the tournament,” McCarthy said. “He took advantage of it. He came in with the right attitude and wanted to show everybody that he was the best player on the ice, and it worked.”

Granted, last mid-September, Graf was five years older than Stenberg is now, with lots more North American pro experience.

But nonetheless, that’s a good barometer for any prospect with NHL hopes in a tournament like this, and not getting ahead of ourselves about what the Rookie Faceoff means: They should dominate a tournament like this.

For what it’s worth, San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini did the same in 2024.

“I thought Macklin was uber-competitive,” McCarthy said then. “I re-watched the game [he played], every loose puck, he’s inside, he’s winning.”

Stenberg did not overwhelm scouts, though he did impress them.