A Huge Devils Trade for 2nd Overall Pick Changes Everything
· Yahoo Sports
It’s going to take a lot from Sunny Mehta to make it happen, but a huge New Jersey Devils trade for the second overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft can certainly change everything.
Now, this goes against my natural instincts by saying a Devils trade to move up in the draft should happen, as opposed to the drum I’ve been beating—claiming New Jersey doesn’t need to draft in the first round this year and should trade their 12th overall pick for immediate help.
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However, one name who continues to improve his stock—even now at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championships—is swaying that opinion.
Ivar Stenberg.
There’s no clear-cut first overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. That’s not taking away anything from Stenberg of Gavin McKenna.
In fact, it makes their cases stronger as both are so highly perceived—albeit for different reasons.
McKenna is viewed as an elite playmaker who will score at a high volume, whereas his game away from the puck could use some polishing.
However, Stenberg is more well-rounded. Many scouts believe his neutral and defensive zone game is already developed to be successful at the NHL level. Yet, that doesn’t mean his offensive tools aren’t elite. They certainly are, but are perhaps not as high as McKenna’s.
At least not yet.
At the World Junior Championships, Stenberg led Sweden to gold as the teams leading scorer with four goals and six assists.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectFor Sweden right now at the Men’s World Championships, Stenberg is the second-leading scorer (four goals, four assists), tied with Oliver Ekman-Larsson with the same statline and second to only Lucas Raymond (five goals, six assists) heading into the Quarterfinal on Thursday.
That’s impressive on an NHL-heavy roster, and builds on what’s even more impressive in Stenberg’s body of work this past season.
Stenberg played half an SHL season in 2024-25, getting his feet wet with a goal and two assists in 25 games for Frolunda HC. Then in 12 playoff games in 2025, he scored three goals and three assists in 12 contests.
Not bad.
Yet, he learned what it took to be successful as a boy among men in his first full SHL season in 2025-26. The 18-year-old winger scored 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games.
That kind of production in a one-year SHL graph gives Stenberg a higher points-per-game total (.767) than some hall-of-fame NHL Swedes in the same one-year graph such as Peter Forsberg (.718) and Henrik Sedin (.694). It also sees Stenberg only trail Markus Naslund (1.00 points per-game), William Nylander (.952), and Daniel Sedin (.840).
Stats via Sportsnet
That kind of resume paired with the belief from a handful of scouts New Jersey Hockey Now has spoken with who believe his offensive instincts are elite, as is his play in transition and on the rush, with solid speed and puck handling make Stenberg a candidate to be selected first overall.
However, many believe the Toronto Maple Leafs have already made up their mind. John Chayka and company are ready to make McKenna the first overall selection at the 2026 NHL Draft.
That leaves Stenberg for the taking for the team next up.
It’s well-documented at this point that Mike Grier is open to moving the Sharks’ first round selection at second overall.
He’s looking to build on what was a massively successful season in San Jose where, althought they missed the playoffs, they got a lot closer than many believed they could.
So what would it take from New Jersey? Would sending Simon Nemec and the 12th overall pick suffice? Is that even enough? Would Mehta have to include Dawson Mercer—who Grier has already tried to pry from the Devils’ grasp before?
Mercer, who is undoubtedly a desired asset, just hasn’t been able to find the offense New Jersey needs. His role on the second line can be filled internally by a number of candidates, such as Arseny Gritsyuk, Connor Brown, or a strong showing in training camp from Lenni Hameenaho.
Heck, maybe Grier even values Anton Silayev as the Sharks need defenders, and they need them now.
Add or subtract to the package however Mehta sees fit, but all of those options should very much be on the table for Mehta.
Stenberg changes everything for the Devils.
He would certainly kill two birds with one stone. Stenberg is NHL ready and could immediately slot on the Devils’ top line with Jack Hughes and fellow Swede Jesper Bratt. He gives that line the kind of finish they’ve been seeking which should finally close the revolving door of wingers.
It also makes the Devils’ core see their average age lower. By no means are the Devils old, but they’re getting older at this point.
Stenberg, however, immediately arrives as a core piece that the Devils can widen their winning window with. And—again—finally answers the Devils’ need on the Jack and Bratt line, while giving the New Jersey a safety net as a core piece to build around in the unlikely nuclear scenario where perhaps the Devils lose the Hughes brothers to Bill Guerin.
And, look. Mehta can’t get this kind of trade wrong. There’s always a chance Stenberg isn’t there and goes first overall to Toronto. However, the saftey net there is McKenna who will fit in with the Devils just as well as Stenberg.
Stenberg’s continued upward trajectory—even as we inch closer to the 2026 NHL Draft—makes the top of the draft clear. Both he and McKenna are NHL ready.
With the belief Toronto has already made up their mind on McKenna, Stenberg in a Devils uniform changes everything.
The Devils can and should compete in 2026-27. Stenberg is ready and he’ll only help.
The Devils brought Mehta in to be bold.
You’d be hard pressed to find a bolder option other than this Devils trade.
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