<p><em>This story&nbsp;<a href="https://hockeysverige.se/intervju/otto-stenberg-malmo-uppbrott-st-louis-blues/">originally appeared on hockeysverige.se&nbsp;</a>and has been translated from Swedish to English.</em></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<p>The World Juniors can certainly change your career scope. </p>



<p>While Otto Stenberg didn’t leave Ottawa with a medal, he earned accolades from the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/st-louis-blues/line-combinations">St. Louis Blues</a>, the team that drafted him 25th overall in Nashville 2023.</p>



<p>Instead of returning to his SHL team, Malmö Redhawks, the Blues thought it would be better to stay in North America and finish the season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds.</p>



<p>“I received a call on Wednesday where (Blues assistant GM Alexander Steen) said they liked what they had seen and thought it would be good for me to come over,” Stenberg said after just landing in Boston for further transport to Springfield on Monday.</p>



<p>Despite liking his set up in Sweden, Stenberg didn’t turn down Steen’s offer.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="138"></div>



<p>“Of course, it was exciting when they called. At the same time, I was very happy in Malmö, and it was not an easy decision to leave. It was St. Louis who wanted this, and that is what matters. I will listen to them, and everything feels very good.”</p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2052" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="309"></div>




<p>The initial loan deal between Malmö and the Blues stated that Stenberg would spend the whole season in the SHL, and join the Thunderbirds when he was done in Sweden. However, there were no complications with Malmö when St. Louis wanted Stenberg to join them immediately.</p>



<p>“It was St. Louis and Malmö who discussed it, and there were really no issues. Malmö understood what St. Louis wanted, and the clubs maintained good communication. For me, it was just about thanking Malmö and wishing them the best.”</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p>During his time in Malmö, he scored three goals and totaled six points in 26 games while averaging 12:28 minutes in ice time per game.<br><br>“I look back on my time in Malmö positively. I got into the rhythm there and felt very comfortable. It was a fun period,” Stenberg said. “The move to Malmö (from Frölunda) has meant a lot for my development. I feel that I have grown both as a player and as a person.</p>



<p>“I have had the opportunity to come to a new place and adapt to a different style of play. I also feel that I have taken steps forward and perhaps adjusted more to SHL play because it is a big difference compared to juniors and HockeyAllsvenskan last season.”</p>



<p>Playing against men on the highest level in Sweden has done a lot for his development, Stenberg says.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="143"></div>



<p>“Yes, I think so. I feel I have taken steps and gotten more used to SHL. The longer it went, the more comfortable I became,” he said. “When I compare the World Junior Championship this year to last year, I felt significantly better. That must mean I have developed.”</p>



<p>Stenberg scored three goals and totaled eight points during the World Juniors –&nbsp;a performance he said the Blues were fond of, despite the fourth-place finish.</p>



<p>“It was really tough to lose the bronze medal game, especially the semifinal. But overall, it was a great experience, especially since it was the last tournament with the 2005-born team. We are many who have stuck together over the years and are now close friends. It was great to play one last tournament together, but it was disappointing that it ended the way it did.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="140"></div>



<p>“There were really small margins that decided the outcome, as is often the case in these types of tournaments.”</p>



<p>As for what he knows about Springfield?</p>



<p>“I have not watched many Springfield games in my life. It’s a young team with some Swedes (Markus Sylvegård, Samuel Johannesson, Simon Robertsson, and Leo Lööf). Also, (Dalibor) Dvorský knows a bit of Swedish. Really, my only expectation is that it feels good to be integrated into the team and getting to know people before next season.</p>



<p></p>
