Ivar Stenberg isn’t hiding what he thinks about the Maple Leafs.
The Sharks forward, who went No. 2 in 2026 after Toronto took Gavin McKenna first overall, said in a recent interview with the East Bay Times that the pre-draft process left him feeling like Toronto was never really his landing spot.
“I was pretty sure I would not go first overall. I didn't have good meetings with Toronto and didn't feel like it was the team for me.
I had met with (the Leafs) during the year, but I don't know. They wanted another guy, and I accept that.
But I'm super happy I'm with the Sharks.”
That’s a pretty revealing answer from a player who was squarely in the middle of the summer’s biggest draft debate. Toronto had its choice of the two elite prospects and went with McKenna, passing on Stenberg despite the latter being viewed as just as worthy a top-end pick. John Chayka made the call, and the marketing pull that came with McKenna wasn’t something the Leafs were going to ignore.
Stenberg has been making the most of his situation in San Jose. He’s played alongside a Sharks core built around young stars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, and he’s already producing with six points in eight games. The fit has looked smooth so far.
Toronto’s side of the story hasn’t been as encouraging. The Maple Leafs are sitting at 3-4-2 and tied with Detroit in the Atlantic basement, while San Jose is 4-3-1 in the Pacific. That contrast only sharpens the conversation around the pick.
There’s also the Swedish angle, which makes the whole thing feel a little more tantalizing. Toronto already has William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and the club’s Swedish connection runs through Mats Sundin at the forefront. Add Daniel Alfredsson behind the bench and the idea of Stenberg in blue and white starts to look like one of those alternate timelines fans can’t stop thinking about.
McKenna is the flashier headliner, no question. But the source of the debate hasn’t disappeared, and Stenberg’s steadiness gives Toronto fans plenty to mull over. He’s averaging a minute and a half more ice time than McKenna, which only adds another layer to the question of fit, usage, and what Toronto actually wanted from the pick.
For now, the answer is simple enough from Stenberg’s perspective: he’s happy in San Jose. And with the Sharks rolling and the Leafs stuck in a rough start, that feeling probably makes even more sense.
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