"I think teams feel way better about Teddy Stiga than the media does," one NHL scout said.
“To me he’s one of the more underrated prospects in this draft," said another.
If the Nashville Predators thought they got a steal in Yegor Surin at No. 22 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, they may have outdone themselves with their selection of Teddy Stiga at No. 55.
Related: In 1st-Round Pick Yegor Surin, Predators Believe They Got a Steal
The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari listed Stiga as one of the best available players after the first round on Friday:
"One of the most high-energy, high-pace forwards in the draft, Stiga has proved time and again he is the perfect complement for a high-end player. Whether he was helping 2025 top prospect James Hagens elevate his game or doing all the small things that allowed Cole Eiserman to be his best, Stiga was a force no matter where he played in the lineup. He is a very similar player to Tij Iginla, who went sixth overall to Utah."
Related: Nashville Predators Get Steal Drafting Teddy Stiga With 55th Pick in 2024
With a number of scouting services projecting Stiga to go in the first round, the Predators appear to have gotten a great value with a player of his skill level at No. 55. The Sudbury, Mass., native had two impressive seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program before seeing his draft stock skyrocket after a stellar 2023-24 campaign with the U.S. National U18 Team. With the U18 team, he tallied 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points in 61 games, the third-best on the team in all three categories.
Stiga also added six goals and five assists in seven games for Team USA at the World Junior Championship this year.
Size – or, more specifically, lack thereof – may have been a key factor causing Stiga to slip down the draft order. But at 5'10" and 179 pounds, Stiga still plays a physical, two-way game with an above-average hockey IQ. He may project as a middle-six talent, but his passing and playmaking ability and penchant for stepping up in big moments could elevate him into a larger role as he continues to develop his technical skills.
Though the Predators entered this week with three picks in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, they ended up with just the one they used on Stiga. Nashville packaged the No. 53 overall pick earlier this week in a trade for Detroit Red Wings prospect Andrew Gibson and traded No. 59 (Spencer Gill) to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for their third-round selection No. 77 (Viggo Gustafsson) and the Minnesota Wild's third round pick in 2025.
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