"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 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.
John McCarthy, coach of the Sharks’ American Hockey League affiliate in San Jose, will be behind the bench for both of the team’s Rookie Faceoff games and is looking forward to possibly seeing that trio together. McCarthy couldn't confirm whether that line will stay intact for the game against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, saying Sharks management has the final call.
"They were together today, so it wouldn't shock me. But we'll see," McCarthy said. "Hard to tell off one practice. I thought (Stenberg) looked good today. He plays with a pace. You can tell he's played against men before. He's not coming out of junior."
Stenberg is eager to get to Sharks training camp, which begins Thursday, but knows he has his work cut out for him. He said brother Otto Stenberg, a St. Louis Blues prospect, offered him some advice ahead of the season.
"He told me to just work hard, do my best,” Stenberg said of Otto, who made his NHL debut last season and had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 32 games for St. Louis. “‘Come ready to training camp and do your best and see what happens.’ If I'm not making it the first time, I'm going to work harder. Stuff like that. Just work hard."
Stenberg intends to do that at the Rookie Faceoff, which will also include the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth. After facing the Kings on Saturday, the Sharks will take on the Mammoth on Sunday in San Jose’s tournament finale.
“(It will be) super fun to play a game,” Stenberg said. “I think it's going to be good for me to play some games before training camp. Play my game and maybe come into the system a little bit, stuff like that.”
