NHL teams ask about Teddy Stiga's fearlessness.
They don't necessarily mean that as a compliment to the 18-year-old draft prospect from Sudbury.
“They say it's a negative. He's a small guy. He can get beat,” U.S. Under-18 national team coach Nick Foh said. “I understand how they see it, but I tell the NHL teams: As he gets older, he'll learn where to put himself and where not to put himself. Right now he's fearless and will do anything, but if he gets hit hard by the wrong guy once or twice, he'll quickly learn where to go and what to do.”
Stiga has spent the past two years playing for USA Hockey's National Development Team program, which brings together the best players in the country from a certain age group to play both in the USHL and for Team USA's junior national team. The 5-foot-10, 179-pound forward is set to play for Boston College in the fall, where he was a national runner-up.
But before that happens, he'll be selected in this weekend's 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which takes place Friday and Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Where will he go? And when? No one knows.
NHL draft experts have him ranked anywhere from 13th to 68th, which is the difference between Florida goaltender Spencer Knight (another BC product) and Vegas' Nick Suzuki or any number of third-round picks who struggle to get into the league.
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“For me it's harder than most people because I've seen myself everywhere and it can be a headache trying to figure out exactly where you're going to go,” Stiga said. “If you go in with no expectations, I'll be very happy wherever I end up.”
Ahead of Friday's first round, which begins at 7pm on ESPN, here's how some of the leading NHL draft experts rank Stiga and what they have to say about him.
“Stiga is one of the most motivated, versatile and intriguing players on the NHL draft list. He never stops moving and has the skill level to play in the lineup alongside the best players in the NTDP,” Ferrari wrote. “Stiga pushes the pace and pressures opponents with and without the puck. He's not a player who lets the game flow, but rather attacks head-on and takes control of the game.”
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“Stiga brings boundless energy to every shift and flies around the ice like his life depends on it. After having him in the middle of the second round last time, I confidently moved him higher up the list because he was my favorite draft-eligible USNTDPer this year,” Ellis wrote. “I think he's a middle-six player in the NHL, but he can play with anyone and in any role.”
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EliteProspects categorizes Stiga as a “clever tactician,” a “playmaker,” and a “two-way forward.”
David Saad wrote that Stiga “may be the draft's best-kept secret. He has a rare combination of tenacity, calculated decision-making and a sophisticated understanding of the game, and his versatility and adaptability make him a force to be reckoned with in any situation,” he added. Saad projects Stiga to be an NHL player in three to four years.
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Smart Scouting: No.20
Josh Tesler wrote, “Teddy Stiga is constantly moving his feet, even without the puck, to provide passing options for his teammates laterally and up the ice. Whether he's on the forecheck or defending on the half wall, he's relentless in pursuit, constantly moving his feet and accelerating when the puck is in motion.”
“Stiga has seemed to get better with each game as the year has progressed. Although he is an undersized forward, Stiga plays with speed and intensity. He has a relentless motor and is not afraid of contact,” wrote North American director of scouting Tate Borst.
Jason Bucala, Sportsnet: No. 28
Bukala projects Stiga as a “second line forward” in the NHL and lists him as a prospect who could shake up the first round. “I personally have high hopes for ultra-competitive forward Teddy Stiga from the USNTDP,” Bukala wrote about a hypothetical trade between Montreal and Calgary. “He would add a tenacious work ethic and a layer of skill to Montreal's prospect pool.”
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McKeen's Hockey: No. 33
HPR/Malloy: No. 38
FloHockey's Chris Peters: No. 40
“Stiga's reputation has risen this year as he has proven he can score on his own, with tenacity away from the puck,” Peters wrote. “Given his skating ability and competitive level, I'm not overly concerned that Stiga's size will hold him back, or at all.”
