Max Miller
Ivar Stenberg took the ice Friday with fellow rookies ahead of his first game in a San Jose Sharks uniform, and the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft can’t wait to get going.
“Just super excited to be here, (and) be around all of these guys,” Stenberg said on the eve of playing in the 2026 Rookie Faceoff tournament, which will be held here Saturday through Tuesday. “Fun to be here.”
The forward, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 2, is expected to begin the season in the NHL. After spending last season with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League and finishing with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games, the 18-year-old is excited about trying to make the jump.
Stenberg, who said he arrived in San Jose a week ago, has joined captain skates with the Sharks as they prepare for training camp. Other players skating have included center Macklin Celebrini, who is entering his third season with San Jose and signed a five-year, $94 million contract ($18.8 million average annual value) on July 29, and veteran defensemen Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse, who were acquired in the offseason.
Those practices, though unofficial, are some of the first chances Stenberg is getting against NHL-quality opponents. As for what he has taken away from the captain skates, he said, “How skilled everyone is. How they work every day. It’s pretty impressive, and something I need to look at and take with me. It’s been fun and good to get to know them a little bit.”
Stenberg isn’t the only expected NHL player on the San Jose Sharks’ Rookie Faceoff roster. Forward Michael Misa, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is also here and skated between Stenberg and fellow NHL hopeful Igor Chernyshov during practice Friday.
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