Playing in Sweden, No. 25 pick in 2023 NHL Draft tells Swedish publication St. Louis wanted him playing in Springfield

The St. Louis Blues wanted Otto Stenberg to come to Norh America, accordig to the 2023 first-round pick as told to Swedish publication hockeysverige.se.

Stenberg, 19, had just completed competition for Sweden at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa where he posted eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games. He thought he would be returning to Malmo of the Swedish Hockey League. 

Plans changed.

"I got a call on Wednesday (from Alexander Steen) saying that they liked what they saw and thought it would be good if I came over. That's how it happened," Stenberg told reporter Ronnie Ronnkvist.

We had originally written at The Hockey News that Stenberg's detour to come to North America mid-season rather than return to Sweden had similar connotations to that of what happened with No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft, Dalibor Dvorsky, who was whisked away from Sweden 10 games into his tenure there.

But according to Stenberg, he was pleased with his stint in Malmo, where he had six points (three goals, three assists) in 25 games.

"Of course it was fun when they called," Stenberg told the publication. "At the same time, I really enjoyed myself in Malmo and it wasn't easy to leave there. It was St. Louis who wanted it and that's what matters. I'll listen to them and everything feels great."

Stenberg made his debut with Springfield of the American Hockey League on Saturday and made an immediate impact with a goal and an assist in a 6-4 win against Bridgeport:

Stenberg also had this solid Q&A with Ryan Smith, voice of the Thunderbirds in which he reiterated the Blues wanted him to make the move to North America.

Stenberg was with Malmo on loan and the original agreement was for him to play a season there, then make the move to Springfield when his SHL season ended, but the Blues evidently had other ideas, and the two sides agreed to dissolve the loan agreement.

"It was St. Louis and Malmo who talked and there were really no strange things," Stenberg said. "Malmo understood what St. Louis wanted and the clubs had good contact with each other. For me, it was just to thank Malmo and wish them luck."

Stenberg will have enough fellow Swedes to interact with, including Markus Sylvegard, Samuel Johannesson, Simon Robertsson and Leo Loof. Of course, he and Dvorsky know each other from previous prospect camps in St. Louis.

"It's a young team with some Swedes ," Stenberg said. "In addition, Dvorsky knows a little Swedish.

"Actually, I don't have much more expectations than that it's nice that I've already gotten into it and gotten to know people for next season. It's only positive for next season when I'll be there from the start."