Stenberg To Make Sharks Preseason Debut V. Golden Knights

It is an exciting night at the SAP Center on Tuesday as San Jose Sharks 2026 No. 2 overall pick Ivar Stenberg will make his preseason debut.

The hype around this top talent is huge, and for good reason. The 18-year-old has high expectations for Team Teal’s future. He’ll play on a line with fellow Swede Alexander Wennberg and Collin Graf. That trio has been a combination for Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky since the start of training camp.

“It’s just gonna be super fun. Just super fun to play a game,” Stenberg said on Tuesday. “(It’s a taste), but (the regular season is) close. Just (have to) work hard and have a good game.”

“He’s progressed really well through camp, and he’s picking things up. You can see the game slowed down for him,” Warsofsky said of Stenberg. “I know it’s practice, but from the drills and the structure that we’re put in place, he’s picking it up pretty quickly.”

Wennberg has instantly become a mentor to the young San Jose Sharks forward, answering any questions he may have as he transitions to North America.

“He asked, and there are a few tweaks. From my experience, at the end of the day, I just told him to let loose and play his game,” Wennberg said about the advice he’s giving Stenberg. “I mean everyone’s seen his skill and sees the way he plays. At the end of the day, there’s a lot of X’s and O’s, a lot of thinking out there. If you play your best hockey, even for myself, it’s when you don’t even think. You’re just reacting and going after instinct. So for him, just let loose and just let his game speak for itself.”

Stenberg echoed a similar mentality when asked about how his adjustment to smaller ice is going.

“Just everything. He’s Swedish. He’s been in the league for a long time, and he knows what I’m going through. Just asking him a lot of questions and, yeah, getting all the help I need,” Stenberg said. “Like in our line, [we have] a little bit of give and go, and then you like see what’s open. But also where you can put the puck if you’re under pressure. Some small details.”

Stenberg will feature on the San Jose Sharks’ top power-play unit. During the morning skate, the winger was on the left flank, where he spent all of last season until Worlds.

“It’s good. Also a bit different when it’s a smaller rink,” Stenberg said about his power play spot. “I gotta learn and improve some stuff, but I feel pretty comfortable on that side.”

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesady.