Now that the SHL season is over for many teams, Swedish players and prospects will begin to make the journey to North American professional hockey. One of those players, Kevin Stenlund, has been assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect is coming off another good season with HV71, and already signed his entry-level contract last spring.
Stenlund, 21, was selected 58th-overall in 2015 and is another intriguing forward prospect for the Blue Jackets. He really showed off in the playoffs last year for HV71, where he had 10 points in 16 games en route to a championship. This year he came back with 22 points in 43 games, and continued to play his solid two-way game.
The 6’4″ 210-lbs Stenlund is a responsible defensive presence that has been credited for his high hockey IQ since draft day. Though he may not be a huge offensive producer at the next level, he’s on a fast track for the NHL if he can continue to hold his own at the center position. He’ll be challenged at the AHL level down the stretch, but could compete for a job with the Blue Jackets within the next calendar year.