The St. Louis Blues are tapping into their farm system once again, bringing up promising young forward Otto Stenberg from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. This move, announced today by Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong, adds Stenberg to a growing list of players who’ve made the jump from Springfield this season.
OTTO STENBERG WITH THE FIRST GOAL OF THE T-BIRD SEASON pic.twitter.com/uCms2YsAM2
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) October 11, 2025
He’ll join Hugh McGing, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Matt Luff, all of whom have joined the Blues this year after starting with the Thunderbirds as the latest call-up to inject some fresh energy into the Blues’ lineup.
At just 20 years old, Stenberg has been turning heads in the AHL. In 21 games with Springfield this season, he’s notched eight points, including three goals and five assists, along with four penalty minutes. Overall, his AHL career stats are equally impressive: across 59 regular-season games, he’s tallied 25 points (eight goals and 17 assists) and just eight penalty minutes, showcasing his skill and discipline on the ice.
Diving deeper into his performance, Stenberg has averaged 16:31 of time on ice (TOI) per game this season, with his ice time ramping up to an average of 18:53 over his last five outings. He’s also shown versatility, contributing on special teams with 11 power-play shots and three short-handed shots, while maintaining a low penalty risk and drawing nine penalties himself.
THIS OTTO STENBERG SETUP TO A ZACH DEAN GOAL IS HIGHLIGHT REEL MATERIAL pic.twitter.com/lmjbZGXsvX
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) April 19, 2025
Hailing from Stenungsund, Sweden, the 5’11”, 188-pound forward brings a blend of speed, vision, and scoring touch that could make an immediate impact.
Blues fans will remember him as the team’s first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
This recall comes at a pivotal time for the Blues, who are dealing with a depleted forward group due to multiple injuries. Key players like Dylan Holloway (out six weeks with an ankle injury), Jordan Kyrou (lower body, on IR), Nick Bjugstad (upper body, expected back around Dec. 20), and Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist, out at least six weeks) have left significant holes in the lineup.
In terms of deployment, projections peg Stenberg as a middle-of-the-lineup winger long-term with NHL-average skating and strong work rate.
On this injury-riddled roster, he could slot into a bottom-six role initially, potentially seeing 12-15 minutes of TOI per game to start, with opportunities on the penalty kill or second power-play unit given his AHL special teams involvement.
If he adapts quickly, there’s upside for middle-six minutes, providing secondary scoring and energy to help spark the Blues’ anemic attack. His pace and discipline could be key in stabilizing the forward lines during this tough stretch, and with positive reviews from training camp, he might even make his NHL debut against the Nashville Predators tonight.
Keep an eye on how he adapts to the NHL pace—his poise in the AHL suggests he’s ready for the challenge. What do you think, Blues faithful? Is this the spark the team needs? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribe for more updates on St. Louis hockey and beyond.