The 2026 NHL Draft may be low on the to-do list for Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman but regardless, the draft is a great way for a team like the Oilers to go after players to supplement their roster with young players on entry-level contracts.
One player they should be looking at is a potential sleeper pick, Swiss forward Lars Steiner.
Lars Steiner scouting report
Steiner had some hype heading into the 2025-26 season but due to his injuries, size (or lack thereof), and lack of leaps taken, he has fallen quite substantially now sitting at 65th on the eliteprospects.com consolidated board. He spent this past season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he scored 30 goals and 25 assists in 44 games. In the postseason he added another five goals and four assists for nine points in 17 matches.
Steiner did appear to be injured, especially through the latter parts of the season as he looked noticeably slower. However, when healthy Steiner is a very high energy player who despite his size (5'10, 176lbs) plays a very physical brand of hockey. He applies tons of pressure to opponents and is not afraid to sacrifice his body. He also has a lot of offensive flair to his game, he displays great vision with the puck, making high level passes and driving offence as a winger.
As a player who clearly battled injuries and saw a dip as a result, there is some real sleeper potential with Steiner, especially if a team can give him the time to properly develop and gain some strength to his frame.
NHL projection
Steiner has some real potential but he also does come with some risk given how he looked this year and with his lack of size. Especially with his style of play, there is a real chance that Steiner's game does not translate to the NHL. However, his upside is very evident and is something that should make him a coveted player on day two of the draft.
Steiner brings legitimate top-nine winger upside with the ability to engage physically and play a more two-way style as a third line or bottom-six forward. His offensive potential also helps give him a projection to play higher up in the lineup.
If the Oilers take Steiner, it could be a move that looks like a major gamble at 52nd or later on draft day but has the potential to pay off big time.
Add us as a preferred source on Google