| Otto Stenberg | Frolunda | SHL | L | C | 5’11” | 181 | Stenungsund, SWE | 2005 | 2022-2023: A- |
U18: 5 Nation Tournament, November 8-14, 2022: Throughout this tournament Otto proved himself to be the driver of offense on his team’s top line. While listed as a left handed centerman Otto also spent significant time playing the wing, and showing himself to be very adept at being adaptable. He is an above average skater, and has the full compliment of skating strengths to be a solid pro prospect. He displays speed, can play with good pace, and is very good at control skating, slowing when needed, bursting with speed when needed and changing his pace to make himself a tough competitor to check. He can turn on jets and beat defenders wide if they give him an opening. He can also cut sharply if closed on, cutting to the middle and creating separation between himself and defenders. Lots of spin and evade in the corners and behind the net when he is in a grind situation low in the offensive end. He is both a capable playmaker and goal scorer. He has great hands, is a confident puck handler, and can plain flat out beat defenders 1 on 1 with stick skill at times, especially when coming out of the corner with a puck off of a cycle. He loves the area behind the net, and he is quick to seize opportunities to try a behind the net wrap, or make plays from behind net out front. As he advances to next levels he will need to work on penetrating to the net a bit more aggressively as he will often take the puck into softer quieter areas if given the option. Defensively I found Otto very responsible. He demonstrated speed and commitment on back checking assignments, used head on a swivel coming into his end to read the play, willing to jump into defensive corners if first forward back, and will battle and compete on boards. He appears to have all the traits necessary to work himself into a Top 6 type of player as he develops and advances into higher levels. (Scout: Marlin Muylaert)
U18: Team Sweden vs Team Finland, November 10: 2022: Really good 3rd period. Took control of the game and he was the best player on the ice. Scored game winner on a 1 timer off half wall. Controlled play and the tempo of the game with his decisions distributing the puck and his puck protection skills. One of the few players from the 4 Euro teams to take control of a game. (Scout: Greg Puhalski)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images