Ivar Stenberg has already pushed his way into the 2027 Calder Trophy conversation, and that says plenty about both the player and the San Jose Sharks situation around him.
The Sharks took Stenberg with the No. 2 pick earlier this year, and he’s quickly become one of the names drawing real rookie-of-the-year attention. On most Calder boards, he’s sitting third, with odds in the +575 to +700 range. He’s ahead of players like Cole Hutson and Anton Frondell, and one analyst at Sportsbook Review went all the way and picked him to win the award outright.
That kind of buzz doesn’t happen by accident. Stenberg’s appeal starts with the fact that San Jose can put him in a spot to pile up points.
The Sharks are building around a young core, and if Stenberg earns a scoring role, the names around him could make his life a lot easier. Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa give him a support system most rookies can only dream about.
At the Rookie Faceoff, he flashed exactly that kind of upside, scoring twice in 25 seconds while skating on a line with Misa and Igor Chernyshov.
The résumé behind the hype is already strong. Stenberg put together one of the best draft seasons by an 18-year-old in Swedish Hockey League history, finishing with 33 points - 11 goals and 22 assists - in 43 games for Frolunda.
That total ranks as the fifth-highest ever by a player 18 or younger in Sweden’s top league. He then followed it with 10 points in seven games during Sweden’s gold-medal run at the 2026 World Juniors.
Scouts love the package. His hockey IQ, playmaking, wrist shot and nonstop motor keep coming up, and NHL Central Scouting ranked him the top international skater in the draft class. As Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis put it, his floor is very, very high.
What makes Stenberg especially interesting in the Calder race is how his path stacks up against the players ahead of him. Against Porter Martone, the Sharks forward has the clear edge in supporting cast.
The Flyers simply don’t offer the same offensive help that San Jose can. Against Gavin McKenna, Stenberg has something else working for him: he already spent a full season battling professional men in Sweden, while McKenna is coming up from junior hockey.
That kind of experience can matter over an 84-game schedule, especially early on when so many rookies are still adjusting to the NHL’s pace and physicality. Stenberg has already dealt with that jump.
There’s also the team context. San Jose is trying to make the playoffs, but the organization is still clearly committed to developing its young talent.
That usually means a longer leash and steadier ice time, even when a rookie hits the usual bumps. For a Calder candidate, that’s a huge plus.
None of this makes Stenberg the favorite. Martone and McKenna are ahead of him for good reason, and the left side of the Sharks’ lineup is crowded enough that his role isn’t locked in. A slow start or a move to a checking line could change the picture quickly.
Still, the ingredients are there: proven production against pros, top-end skill, elite linemates and a team that should give him chances. If Stenberg lands next to Celebrini and stays there, the player currently third on the odds board has a real path to finishing first.
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