Stian Solberg 2024 NHL Draft Profile

It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! The 2024 NHL Draft will take place on June 28 and 29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Next up for us is Stian Solberg. The Norwegian-born Solberg’s projected pick ranges from 21st to 55th overall, likely resulting in him being an early second-round pick.

Who is Stian Solberg?

PLAYER	POSITION	HANDEDNESS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	AVG TOI
Stian Solberg	LD	L	6’2″	201 lbs	19:44

Solberg’s On-Ice Production

YEAR	DRAFT RELATIVE	LEAGUE	TEAM	GP	G	A	P
2019–20	D-4	Norway U16	Vålerenga U16	23	3	17	20
2020–21	D-3	Norway U16	Vålerenga U16	4	0	7	7
		Norway U18	Vålerenga U18	9	1	10	11
2021–22	D-2	Norway U18	Vålerenga U18	4	1	3	4
		Norway U20	Vålerenga U20	11	2	6	8
		Norway	Vålerenga	11	0	1	1
		WJC-20 D1A	Norway U20	5	0	0	0
2022–23	D-1	Norway U20	Vålerenga U20	2	2	3	5
		Norway	Vålerenga	18	1	3	4
		Norway U18	WJC-18	6	0	1	1
		Norway U18 (all)	International-Jr	6	0	1	1
2023–24	D+0	Norway	Vålerenga	42	5	10	15
		WJC-20	Norway U20	5	1	1	2
		International-Jr	Norway U20 (all)	7	1	2	3
		WC	Norway	7	2	1	3
		International	Norway (all)	4	1	0	1

Playing in the Norwegian Elite Hockey Ligaen, Solberg plays against men, and as a young teen—despite not having flashy numbers—he has displayed why he belongs as a capable three-zone shut-down defender.

Born December 29, 2005, in Olso, Norway, the defender found a hockey home in the Valerenga system. Playing for Valerenga Academy at the U16, U18, and U20 levels, the 6-foot-2 defenceman quickly advanced up the ranks. Solberg suited up for professional hockey at the age of 16 in the Norwegian league with the 26-time national champions and has contributed as a lineup regular this past 2023–24 season.

Solberg also has a plethora of national team experience, representing the Scandinavian nation at the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships while also earning a roster spot on their World Championships team this past season. After a respectable season in which Solberg put up 15 points in 2023–24, the young left-shot defender has signed with Farjestad of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024–25 season.

Solberg’s strengths

Physicality

Solberg’s biggest contribution is his physicality. With his frame, size, and muscle, he is able to quite literally push players around and make it difficult for opposing players to establish positioning, possession, and space. Anything in the perimeter of the slot is safe, which is the main reason he starts 56% of his total shifts in the defensive zone.

The Valerenga defender finishes checks cleanly and effectively while also possessing quality balance, ensuring he can equally absorb hits well. In any given game, Solberg dishes out around 2.2 hits per game while being on the receiving end of 1.2. Safe to say Solberg’s compete level is above average.

Rarely does the Olso-born defender lose his man, which greatly limits the number and quality of chances generated in and around the slot, as opposing forwards have to first avoid Solberg.

In transition, Solberg plays a relatively smart positioning game that is furthered by physicality. Upon zone entry from the blue line to the faceoff dot, Solberg does two things quite well. He isolates opponents, pushing them to the outside and crushing them into the boards while also stick-checking in a position that can not be avoided.

This shows his ability to kill rush chances before they even begin, although, at points, his risk assessment is still clearly developing. This rush neutralization points to the growth of a notable hockey IQ.

Puck skills

Solberg also shows some aptitude with breakout passing. The Norwegian is also proven to be a capable enough facilitator and handler.

Solberg’s offensive aptitude is legit. He proves to be an asset on the breakout with good vision and quick pass/play option identification matched with crisp long and short passes that often are right on his teammates’ tapes.

The defenceman from Olso is also not scared to lead plays—but is slightly less effective in this role—and shows a willingness to jump up to puck handle and create lanes in the back of o-zone rush plays that could generate chances for.

Stolberg proves to be a capable in-zone facilitator who isn’t particularly creative but efficient. His coaches also notice this offensive upside, as he averages 1:17 of power play time per game.

Play support

Solberg is able to keep plays alive for his team, allowing for chance generation, breakouts, and o-zone time. Elements of play support that Solberg excels in include puck protection, making the simple plays, and his calm and collected poise.

How Solberg demonstrates his puck protection is great, too. He uses good skating edgework to implement quick spins while using both his body and board work to pin opponent sticks and establish inside body leverage on attacking forwards, from which he can then spring quick passes and get the puck away from danger.

In o-zone play, when facilitating is not an option, Solberg shows elements of decent activations from the point, initiating cycles, and decent hand-eye control.

One of the fun elements of Solberg’s game is his poise with the puck. He plays a relatively calm and collected game, handling pressure quite well. He actively scans the ice and is able to quickly and confidently get the puck out of harm’s way.

Other support elements revolve around his skating, as he has relatively above-average lateral speed, good edgework, and posture/power in his skating to match the rest of his frame.

Solberg’s areas of improvement

Senses

Some minor issues with Solberg’s game revolve around his senses. In transitional instances where he is not able to isolate and hit players upon zone entry—like outlined above—Solberg’s recovery is problematic as he struggles to regain gap control and catch up to the pace of play, further increasing the quality of chances against.

In league action, Solberg has shown some play anticipation issues around opposing passing lanes or opponent play options, but this is something that can and will develop with experience. This is one of the negatives of developing in a league playing against grown men.

Risk assessment for Solberg shows a player who is capable but still clearly developing, causing issues of over-commitment to physicality and a lack of spatial awareness.

Shot selection

A noticeable issue with Solberg’s direct offensive output is his shot. Shot selection is a bit of a problem as he often shoots directly into traffic or entirely misses the net. The shot accuracy of 46% is not particularly fantastic.

Potential

Solberg has the tools to be a very capable and unique combination of physicality and offensive upside. That being said, playing in the Norwegian league for his draft year can cause uncertainty around projections as the level of play is not as high as other European leagues and is also not as consistent as the CHL.

With that being said, his draft +1 season in the SHL will certainly be interesting to watch. As of right now, Solberg has the tools to be a high-end second or third-pairing defenceman.

Solberg’s Comparables

Jacob Trouba is the most directly comparable player to Solberg. Both have a focal point of physicality, mixed with secondary scoring factors and solid enough skating.

Fit with the Flames

Within the Calgary Flames, Solberg will fit nicely into a top-four shutdown pair that brings high-end energy and life to any game for the fans of the C of Red.

Summary

Risk: 3.5/5

The biggest risk with Solberg is simply that his old-school style of play is attractive, but the translation to higher-level pro hockey is not 100% certain. If more stability around senses and shooting is made, he could be a real gem.

Reward: 3.5/5

Stolberg’s style of play is somewhat nostalgic for old-school hockey fans. He possesses a unique old-school physicality combined with some offensive upside and perimeter-defensive aptitude that the new school can appreciate.

Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2024 NHL Draft prospects:

Tyler RohlederMay 25, 2024

5 minutes read