Lars Steiner...If ever a sleeper pick, this is it

[smilinjoefission]

Maybe the steal of the 2026 draft for the Blues? Played one game for Davos in the playoffs as a 15 year old, playing against grown (donkey) men. Has offensive talent to burn. Maybe just reading too much into the stats, but this one seems to have potential galore. We'll see in 3-5 years.

[STL fan in MN]

I was pumped when I saw they took Steiner. I had him ranked 46th. That’s higher than where most had him but most also had him in the 2nd to 3rd round. I’m a little surprised he lasted to the 6th rd but then again, teams continue to overvalue height.

Steiner is 5’10” but he’s solidly built and is a buzzsaw that plays through contact and goes to the hard area of the ice. He has a very nice shot and plus speed as well. Solid puck skills - NHL average.

I think why teams passed on him, besides the height, is he’s not a very good playmaker. And I think that makes some question his hockey sense. To me, I think it’s fine. He’s not ever going to be an NHL top-6 guy but he has the speed and absolutely has the tenacity to be a great bottom-6 energy player. Your team need a boost? Then send this little Tasmanian devil over the boards and let him go create chaos. And with that shot, he’s going to score some goals too.

Not going to say he’s going to definitely make it to the NHL or that he was a steal, but I like him and his chances of making it way way more than the average 6th rd pick.

He’s going to head back to Switzerland and play for Davos again.
https://swisshockeynews.ch/en/shn/men/s ... im-minder

That’ll be a great place for him to develop for the next year or two. Assuming he develops well enough for the Blues to want to sign him, I’d look for him to then come back over to N.A., head to Springfield and then we’ll see from there.

[Hockey Pete]

Maybe the steal of the 2026 draft for the Blues? Played one game for Davos in the playoffs as a 15 year old, playing against grown (donkey) men. Has offensive talent to burn. Maybe just reading too much into the stats, but this one seems to have potential galore. We'll see in 3-5 years.

Lars is an intriguing pick, as those 30g in 44gms is nothing to sneeze at (even in the Q). Completely off my radar, but a kid I'll be keeping an eye on.

[BleedingBleu]

I can’t help but be intrigued anytime a guy that’s 5’-10” is described as a “Power Forward”

[Bluesfan1978]

https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/202 ... -nhl-draft
Steiner is mentioned under the surprises section at the end
This the Link describing him more:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/202 ... n-nhl-role

[Galatians221jb1]

I can’t help but be intrigued anytime a guy that’s 5’-10” is described as a “Power Forward”

I think Brett Hull was 5'10"

[Sprtsfntc11]

I can’t help but be intrigued anytime a guy that’s 5’-10” is described as a “Power Forward”

I think Brett Hull was 5'10"

Yes but Hullie was a "power drinker" not a "power forward".....

[BleedingBleu]

https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/202 ... -nhl-draft
Steiner is mentioned under the surprises section at the end
This the Link describing him more:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/202 ... n-nhl-role

Ah, see you already referenced the article…

Madison Delaval: Though a two-year Swiss pro contract looms large, I was still shocked to see Lars Steiner fall all the way to the sixth round. He matches the spark-plug archetype popularized by Stanley Cup cornerstones like Yanni Gourde[/url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/556512/logan-stankoven] and [url]Logan Stankoven, which is why I considered him a top-100 lock. Returning to Switzerland means less NHL control over his development, sure, but this was still a steep slide for a market inefficiency-type prospect.

Hadi Kalakeche: Lars Steiner falling as much as he did, and it’s not particularly close. Sure, he’s 5-foot-10, but he’s the sturdiest forward in the entire QMJHL, a genuine play-killer and competitor, with the goal-scoring skill to rip in from the half wall. He could develop into a prospect St. Louis can trust on both special team units, and in key moments. In fact, I thought Steiner had an outside chance at getting picked ahead of Yegor Shilov. Instead, he went 128 spots later. I’m still shocked.

Read More: Lars Steiner's motor and physical skills could win him an NHL role

[dhsux]

I was pumped when I saw they took Steiner. I had him ranked 46th. That’s higher than where most had him but most also had him in the 2nd to 3rd round. I’m a little surprised he lasted to the 6th rd but then again, teams continue to overvalue height.

Steiner is 5’10” but he’s solidly built and is a buzzsaw that plays through contact and goes to the hard area of the ice. He has a very nice shot and plus speed as well. Solid puck skills - NHL average.

I think why teams passed on him, besides the height, is he’s not a very good playmaker. And I think that makes some question his hockey sense. To me, I think it’s fine. He’s not ever going to be an NHL top-6 guy but he has the speed and absolutely has the tenacity to be a great bottom-6 energy player. Your team need a boost? Then send this little Tasmanian devil over the boards and let him go create chaos. And with that shot, he’s going to score some goals too.

Not going to say he’s going to definitely make it to the NHL or that he was a steal, but I like him and his chances of making it way way more than the average 6th rd pick.

He’s going to head back to Switzerland and play for Davos again.
https://swisshockeynews.ch/en/shn/men/s ... im-minder

That’ll be a great place for him to develop for the next year or two. Assuming he develops well enough for the Blues to want to sign him, I’d look for him to then come back over to N.A., head to Springfield and then we’ll see from there.

Great write up MN!

Better than the pro one for me where they all sound like first rounders.

Reading yours makes me feel like I've seen the kid play myself.

[MrPostman01]

I can’t help but be intrigued anytime a guy that’s 5’-10” is described as a “Power Forward”

I think Brett Hull was 5'10"

Both in height and width!

[STL fan in MN]

I was pumped when I saw they took Steiner. I had him ranked 46th. That’s higher than where most had him but most also had him in the 2nd to 3rd round. I’m a little surprised he lasted to the 6th rd but then again, teams continue to overvalue height.

Steiner is 5’10” but he’s solidly built and is a buzzsaw that plays through contact and goes to the hard area of the ice. He has a very nice shot and plus speed as well. Solid puck skills - NHL average.

I think why teams passed on him, besides the height, is he’s not a very good playmaker. And I think that makes some question his hockey sense. To me, I think it’s fine. He’s not ever going to be an NHL top-6 guy but he has the speed and absolutely has the tenacity to be a great bottom-6 energy player. Your team need a boost? Then send this little Tasmanian devil over the boards and let him go create chaos. And with that shot, he’s going to score some goals too.

Not going to say he’s going to definitely make it to the NHL or that he was a steal, but I like him and his chances of making it way way more than the average 6th rd pick.

He’s going to head back to Switzerland and play for Davos again.
https://swisshockeynews.ch/en/shn/men/s ... im-minder

That’ll be a great place for him to develop for the next year or two. Assuming he develops well enough for the Blues to want to sign him, I’d look for him to then come back over to N.A., head to Springfield and then we’ll see from there.

Great write up MN!

Better than the pro one for me where they all sound like first rounders.

Reading yours makes me feel like I've seen the kid play myself.

Thanks.

Since I wrote that, I have since found out the main reason why he fell isn’t because of his height or perceived hockey sense issues, it’s the 2 year contract he signed with Davos. Apparently teams were worried he wouldn’t come back over eventually? Idk. Unless the kid flat out told teams he wasn’t sure he absolutely wanted a NHL career, I just don’t see a huge risk in him playing the next 2 years for the best program in the Swiss league.

If we’re talking a Russian kid going back to Russia I could see the risk as the NHL doesn’t have a transfer agreement with the KHL/Russia but they do have one with the NL/Switzerland. So the Blues could still sign him anytime they want and just pay the transfer fee. I would assume this will prevent Steiner from attending Blues training camp as the Euro leagues start their seasons around when we start camp but that’s not really that big a deal IMO.

But these kids tend to need a good 2-3 years to develop anyway so…why not do so in a really solid pro league? Certainly a better choice than another year of Jrs and definitely a higher caliber than college hockey too.

Steiner is currently in STL at development camp so clearly he’s interested in a NHL career IMO. I think the Swiss league will be a good spot for him and then in a couple years, we can see if he’s worth signing and bringing over here. An absolute potential steal in the 6th rd.

And I just love these types of players. Vladi Sobotka was one of my favorite players back in the day (the young Tasmanian devil/little ball of hate version, not the version when he came back and wanted to abandon that persona bc he thought he was a top-6 scorer then). I see a lot of those same characteristics in Steiner but with a really good shot.

[Bluesfan1978]

Great to hear. As the Blues prospect system matures hopefully it gets to a point where there are several NHL ready players that are 21-25. That’s when the team will really be set up well.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

Thanks for all the info in this thread. Good stuff. Let's go Lars!

[Harri McBain]

Davos is his hometown and they have a good team at the moment. They lost in game seven of the playoff finals against Fribourg this spring. It was a very good series and I watched every game. He will develop good in Davos.
Btw, every Swiss born player has the dream to play in the NHL. If the Blues will give him the chance in the next years, he will try to take a spot. Also teams in the swiss league usually don’t hold up players, who have a chance to play in the NHL. Even if they are still under contract.

Again the article from the newspaper of the region of his hometown Davos from 06/25/2026 from my post in the other thread, if you didn’t see it there:
"The corners of his mouth tighten. Sweat drips from his forehead onto the floor. One last time, Lars Steiner pushes himself into the air. His upper arms tremble slightly. “Hold it, hold it,” the strength coach calls out. Steiner stays in position for a few moments before letting himself drop to the ground, exhausted.

It’s Thursday morning. Weight room, deep in the bowels of the Davos ice arena. Steiner’s new old home. He’s been back since this summer — the kid who grew up in HCD’s youth system but spent the past two years in the Canadian junior league QMJHL, one of the country’s three top development leagues. With the Rouyn Noranda Huskies, Steiner averaged more than a point per game in both seasons. “It’s kind of sad that this time is over,” Steiner says as he wraps up his late morning training session. “But now I’m excited for something new.”

“Not someone who just tags along”
Switzerland. North America. Switzerland. It’s a path more and more Swiss prospects are taking — and in Steiner’s case, one planned carefully. He made the decision to head to North America at just 16, knowing he could benefit from the faster game on the smaller rink and the fierce competition. “Everything is quicker, you have less time,” he realized early on. “Those are exactly the things that help you on the road to pro hockey.” Then there’s the development off the ice. In Rouyn Noranda, a town about the size of Chur, Steiner lived with a billet family and completed school online. He’s become more independent, says Steiner, now 18, reflecting on his Canadian life lessons. “I can open up to new people much more easily.”

In his second year, Steiner lived next door to Guus van der Kaaji. The defenseman also spent much of his junior career with HCD, played one season for the Huskies, and returned to Davos this summer. He describes Steiner as extremely driven. “It leads to some great battles — on and off the ice.” That fits with the expectations Steiner has set for himself ahead of his first season with HCD’s senior team. “I don’t want to be someone who just keeps up. My goal is to be a player who can make a difference.”

It will be fascinating to see what kind of impact Steiner can make in his first pro season — and whether he’ll even complete his two year contract with HCD. This weekend, the NHL Draft takes place in Buffalo. Experts expect Steiner’s name to be called in the second, or at the latest, the third round. His ranking slipped slightly in recent weeks. A shoulder injury that sidelined him for several weeks last fall could hurt him. “In moments like that, you question everything,” Steiner said at the time. “You almost don’t want to do anything anymore except sit at home.” But the Grisons native returned strongly after the forced break — and he’s relaxed heading into the draft. There’s nothing he can change now anyway.

Steiner would be the sixth NHL draftee from Grisons. Jacques Soguel was the first in 1976, selected by the St. Louis Blues. He was followed in 2010 by Nino Niederreiter (New York Islanders) and Mauro Jörg (New Jersey Devils). In 2018, Nico Gross was picked in the fourth round by the New York Rangers. Rico Gredig was the most recent Grisons player drafted, selected by the Rangers in the sixth round in 2024. “Of course I’ve thought about the draft now and then these past weeks,” Steiner says. But he’s not allowing himself to get his hopes up. “I just hope I’ll be happy when the day comes.” By late Saturday night, Swiss time, it will become clear whether that wish comes true."

[dhsux]

I was pumped when I saw they took Steiner. I had him ranked 46th. That’s higher than where most had him but most also had him in the 2nd to 3rd round. I’m a little surprised he lasted to the 6th rd but then again, teams continue to overvalue height.

Steiner is 5’10” but he’s solidly built and is a buzzsaw that plays through contact and goes to the hard area of the ice. He has a very nice shot and plus speed as well. Solid puck skills - NHL average.

I think why teams passed on him, besides the height, is he’s not a very good playmaker. And I think that makes some question his hockey sense. To me, I think it’s fine. He’s not ever going to be an NHL top-6 guy but he has the speed and absolutely has the tenacity to be a great bottom-6 energy player. Your team need a boost? Then send this little Tasmanian devil over the boards and let him go create chaos. And with that shot, he’s going to score some goals too.

Not going to say he’s going to definitely make it to the NHL or that he was a steal, but I like him and his chances of making it way way more than the average 6th rd pick.

He’s going to head back to Switzerland and play for Davos again.
https://swisshockeynews.ch/en/shn/men/s ... im-minder

That’ll be a great place for him to develop for the next year or two. Assuming he develops well enough for the Blues to want to sign him, I’d look for him to then come back over to N.A., head to Springfield and then we’ll see from there.

Great write up MN!

Better than the pro one for me where they all sound like first rounders.

Reading yours makes me feel like I've seen the kid play myself.

Thanks.

Since I wrote that, I have since found out the main reason why he fell isn’t because of his height or perceived hockey sense issues, it’s the 2 year contract he signed with Davos. Apparently teams were worried he wouldn’t come back over eventually? Idk. Unless the kid flat out told teams he wasn’t sure he absolutely wanted a NHL career, I just don’t see a huge risk in him playing the next 2 years for the best program in the Swiss league.

If we’re talking a Russian kid going back to Russia I could see the risk as the NHL doesn’t have a transfer agreement with the KHL/Russia but they do have one with the NL/Switzerland. So the Blues could still sign him anytime they want and just pay the transfer fee. I would assume this will prevent Steiner from attending Blues training camp as the Euro leagues start their seasons around when we start camp but that’s not really that big a deal IMO.

But these kids tend to need a good 2-3 years to develop anyway so…why not do so in a really solid pro league? Certainly a better choice than another year of Jrs and definitely a higher caliber than college hockey too.

Steiner is currently in STL at development camp so clearly he’s interested in a NHL career IMO. I think the Swiss league will be a good spot for him and then in a couple years, we can see if he’s worth signing and bringing over here. An absolute potential steal in the 6th rd.

And I just love these types of players. Vladi Sobotka was one of my favorite players back in the day (the young Tasmanian devil/little ball of hate version, not the version when he came back and wanted to abandon that persona bc he thought he was a top-6 scorer then). I see a lot of those same characteristics in Steiner but with a really good shot.

Thanks for that update.

Love these type players and their low profile draft position, like the Schairer pick in round 3 who sounds like great potential.

Finding the gems late has to be a scouts biggest thrill, I certainly love it as a fan.

[STL fan in MN]

Davos is his hometown and they have a good team at the moment. They lost in game seven of the playoff finals against Fribourg this spring. It was a very good series and I watched every game. He will develop good in Davos.
Btw, every Swiss born player has the dream to play in the NHL. If the Blues will give him the chance in the next years, he will try to take a spot. Also teams in the swiss league usually don’t hold up players, who have a chance to play in the NHL. Even if they are still under contract.

Again the article from the newspaper of the region of his hometown Davos from 06/25/2026 from my post in the other thread, if you didn’t see it there:
"The corners of his mouth tighten. Sweat drips from his forehead onto the floor. One last time, Lars Steiner pushes himself into the air. His upper arms tremble slightly. “Hold it, hold it,” the strength coach calls out. Steiner stays in position for a few moments before letting himself drop to the ground, exhausted.

It’s Thursday morning. Weight room, deep in the bowels of the Davos ice arena. Steiner’s new old home. He’s been back since this summer — the kid who grew up in HCD’s youth system but spent the past two years in the Canadian junior league QMJHL, one of the country’s three top development leagues. With the Rouyn Noranda Huskies, Steiner averaged more than a point per game in both seasons. “It’s kind of sad that this time is over,” Steiner says as he wraps up his late morning training session. “But now I’m excited for something new.”

“Not someone who just tags along”
Switzerland. North America. Switzerland. It’s a path more and more Swiss prospects are taking — and in Steiner’s case, one planned carefully. He made the decision to head to North America at just 16, knowing he could benefit from the faster game on the smaller rink and the fierce competition. “Everything is quicker, you have less time,” he realized early on. “Those are exactly the things that help you on the road to pro hockey.” Then there’s the development off the ice. In Rouyn Noranda, a town about the size of Chur, Steiner lived with a billet family and completed school online. He’s become more independent, says Steiner, now 18, reflecting on his Canadian life lessons. “I can open up to new people much more easily.”

In his second year, Steiner lived next door to Guus van der Kaaji. The defenseman also spent much of his junior career with HCD, played one season for the Huskies, and returned to Davos this summer. He describes Steiner as extremely driven. “It leads to some great battles — on and off the ice.” That fits with the expectations Steiner has set for himself ahead of his first season with HCD’s senior team. “I don’t want to be someone who just keeps up. My goal is to be a player who can make a difference.”

It will be fascinating to see what kind of impact Steiner can make in his first pro season — and whether he’ll even complete his two year contract with HCD. This weekend, the NHL Draft takes place in Buffalo. Experts expect Steiner’s name to be called in the second, or at the latest, the third round. His ranking slipped slightly in recent weeks. A shoulder injury that sidelined him for several weeks last fall could hurt him. “In moments like that, you question everything,” Steiner said at the time. “You almost don’t want to do anything anymore except sit at home.” But the Grisons native returned strongly after the forced break — and he’s relaxed heading into the draft. There’s nothing he can change now anyway.

Steiner would be the sixth NHL draftee from Grisons. Jacques Soguel was the first in 1976, selected by the St. Louis Blues. He was followed in 2010 by Nino Niederreiter (New York Islanders) and Mauro Jörg (New Jersey Devils). In 2018, Nico Gross was picked in the fourth round by the New York Rangers. Rico Gredig was the most recent Grisons player drafted, selected by the Rangers in the sixth round in 2024. “Of course I’ve thought about the draft now and then these past weeks,” Steiner says. But he’s not allowing himself to get his hopes up. “I just hope I’ll be happy when the day comes.” By late Saturday night, Swiss time, it will become clear whether that wish comes true."

I did not see this in a different thread so thanks for sharing.

Doesn’t add a ton of new info but his shoulder injury couldn’t have been too bad as there’s no record of him having surgery on ot and it sounds like he was in the middle of an upper body workout in the first paragraph there.

Interesting that even up to a couple days before they draft they still thought he’d be a 2nd or 3rd rd pick. I had him ranked as such but figured he wouldn’t. A solid clue is which 100 players are invited to the Combine as the NHL invites the players the teams want them to invite. The approx top 100 based on an average are then invited. Steiner wasn’t invited.

Hopefully he’s not too bummed he fell to the 6th and someone’s already given him the speech: “where you were drafted only matters on draft day. What you do with it from there will determine where your career takes you.”