The Scouting Report:
In the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, identifying a player who mirrors winger Teddy Stiga’s dedication can be quite challenging. Stiga is gaining recognition for his persistent effort and unwavering resolve. Despite his 5-foot-10 stature and 177-pound weight, he relies on his other abilities to thrive, as he cannot depend solely on his physical power. Stiga has mentioned in recent press events that he models his style of play after NHL player Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins, showcasing a similar high level of intensity on the ice. Teddy Stiga’s overall skills and unrelenting on-ice mindset will more than make up for any perceived limitations in size or strength.
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Draft Projections
Ranked #60 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #44 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #48 by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked #42 by Sportsnet/Bukala
Ranked #23 by Elite Prospects
On-Ice Abilities and Hockey IQ:
Teddy Stiga excels as a playmaker, demonstrating outstanding skills in this area, and for my this remains his biggest asset. His versatility forms a solid foundation, to be sure, but his skating abilities continue to make him a threat, and hints at his potential for the NHL. He excels at executing strategic moves in the corners and behind the net, and is particularly skilled at generating momentum in the game and setting up his teammates for scoring opportunities.
I think that’s a strength of my game. Corner battles are a big piece of that. Winning every battle is a big thing I pride myself on.
-Teddy Stiga
Teddy Stiga delivered a modest performance, registering 12 goals and 21 points across 49 games during his season with the U-17 team, securing the 14th position in team scoring. Stiga’s outstanding performance contributed to Team USA’s victory in the U17 World Hockey Challenge. Following an injury that sidelined him towards the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Stiga utilized this period to concentrate on enhancing his skills through strength training. The dedicated focus on this training has yielded substantial results for the talented forward, evident in his marked progress across various facets of the game.
Stiga had a significant impact during the U-18 Five Nations tournament this past February, topping all tournament players with a total of nine points in only four games. His exceptional performance included an impressive four-point display against Switzerland. Overall, Stiga finished the tournament with three goals and six assists an Team USA would earn the second-place finish.
Stiga went on to participate in the UA18 Men’s Worlds Tournament for Team USA in May, securing a position among the Overall Top 10 leading scorers by achieving six goals, five assists, totaling 11 points. Stiga’s exceptional presence of mind on the ice and his sharp awareness of his teammates’ needs are among his strongest attributes, and he showed much of that skillset with his performance for Team USA. He excels at spotting open lanes, a talent he demonstrated in this tournament by showcasing his on-ice abilities and hockey intelligence, notably achieving a hat trick in the game against Finland on April 30th.
Prospect Potential:
While currently ranked 60th on the Draft Prospect list by Inside the Rink, there is a possibility that this forward could be drafted earlier than anticipated. This is particularly true if a team is seeking a player with a genuine team-oriented approach and a well-rounded skill set, positioning them alongside equally skilled teammates like 2025 Draft Prospect and Team USA U18 MVP James Hagens, who also achieved a hat trick in the same game against Finland with Stiga.
Stiga is the type of player that will also shine in pressers as he is skilled at giving interviews and has well thought out responses. Stiga genuinely seems at ease in those high-pressure situations that can often seem daunting to a young player. As a result, Stiga has emerged as one of the standout prospects within this draft class.
Teddy Stiga Interview (NHL.com)
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