“It's going to be my first-ever Stanley Cup game so for it to be in Vegas, it'll be pretty cool experience and to experience with Keaton and those guys will be fun,” McKenna said.
International Prospects Face Unique Challenges
International skater Ivar Stenberg sat out the physical tests following a recent illness. He chose to participate only in the interview portion with 14 NHL franchises.
“Been sick pretty much lately,” Stenberg stated regarding his decision to opt out of the physical portion of the combine.
The 18-year-old forward recorded 33 points across 43 games in the Swedish Hockey League during the regular season.
“After the IIHF World Championship, I talked to my agents, my off-ice coach, and we decided that this is the best for me ...
to not do it,” Stenberg explained.
Despite skipping the drills, Stenberg expressed confidence that his performance throughout the season demonstrated his professional capabilities.
“It's going to maybe not look too good, but it's dangerous to do it when you're sick,” Stenberg remarked.
The forward highlighted his cognitive processing on the ice as a main strength for his transition to North American professional leagues.
“My hockey IQ for sure,” Stenberg said. “That's one thing that's pretty good, something that would help me.”
The 2026 combine introduced two new evaluation metrics: a 10-meter sprint and an isokinetic squat test to evaluate lower-body power without traditional free weights.
Professional Hockey Performance Organization president Matt Price noted that lower-body strength directly influences skating acceleration and puck battles.
