How an overseas move to the QMJHL accelerated Lars Steiner's path to the NHL Draft

It was admittedly an up-and-down season for Lars Steiner. 

The right winger dealt with an injury and missed some time, but still finished with 55 points in 44 QMJHL games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. 

“I would say it had some downs, but the ups really outweighed them,” Steiner said. “When I realized the injury wouldn’t hold me back, when I felt comfortable again, the season really started to take a good step, and I’m happy with it.”

Steiner also believes he’ll be better going forward because of that adversity, and it makes him an intriguing prospect for this week’s NHL Draft, which will be held in Buffalo on Friday and Saturday. 

“I’m excited about it,” Steiner said, who will watch the draft with family at home in Davos. “I had some good conversations with [NHL] teams during the season, and I’m going to not worry too much, but I’ll be looking forward to seeing what happens.”

Steiner is the 63rd-ranked prospect by Elite Prospects. He was one of the better play drivers in the QMJHL this season and pairs strong offensive skills with defensive details. He’s a good space manipulator, using his stick to take away lanes, but then using his offensive habits to create off turnovers. 

It’s a profile Steiner said he had growing up in Switzerland, but he really took another step when he jumped to the QMJHL before last season. 

“The main thing is how all of the guys, everyone, is working toward the NHL,” Steiner said. “They want to be professionals. They act like it, and age isn’t really an excuse. I think that’s the biggest difference between [the QMJHL] and playing in Switzerland. It pushes you every day to get more NHL-ready."

Steiner said he also felt leaps in his game, thanks to his time in the QMJHL, when representing Switzerland at the World Junior Championships. This year, he had four points in five World Junior Games, one goal and three assists, and averaged close to 19 minutes per game despite being the second youngest player on the roster. 

“I felt like I also got to have a bit of a leadership role, even as a younger guy,” Steiner said. “That’s something that really helped me kind of grow my game and confidence.”

For Steiner, the World Juniors experience, he said, was an ideal time to work with Washington Capitals prospect Leon Muggli, the Swiss captain and defenceman who was taken in the second round in 2024. Steiner said he spoke with Muggli about adjusting to pro hockey, specifically about what Muggli learned this season in the AHL after dealing with an early injury. 

“He was super helpful. Of course, he’s the captain and helped everyone,” Steiner said. “But we talked about the game, about adjusting to North America, and you get a good idea of how and what he thinks about to have some success already [in the AHL].”

He’s not bitter about it, but Steiner is going into the draft a bit overlooked. While he’s ranked as high as 63rd by Elite Prospects, NHL Central Scouting had him ranked 89th amongst North American skaters, and he wasn’t amongst the 90 players invited to the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo. 

“I didn’t get invited, but I’m not too worried about it,” Steiner said. “I spoke to teams, and I’m going to be excited about what happens.”