What if we left a bruising defenseman overseas? What would that look like?
Analysis:
If all goes well for Norway, I get the distinct feeling this is going to be the year that forces NHL scouts to pay slightly closer attention to the oft-neglected program. If not for Brandsegg-Nygaard bringing much needed life on offense with his frequently brilliant play…then it’s probably gonna be for Solberg. I simply do not understand how a player like Stian Solberg manages to slip through the cracks of even the most skeptical european scout for the USHL/CHL. Were they all on break? Was there a snowstorm? Did they not like the Smalahove?
Anyway, Solberg comes to us from the EliteHockey Ligaen in Norway, from the powerhouse Vålerenga team; usually shortened to VIF. If you’ve played the NHL games, this is usually the only team from Norway they include. VIF predictably was very good this year, and a part of why was that they found the most aggressive person in Norway and put him on skates.
Simply put, this kid must be a nightmare to play against.
Solberg’s physicality leaps out at you not just for where it is and where it’s being applied, but also from just how willing he is to get involved. He attacks the puck carrier with a level of aggression that’s just not seen in european leagues, and if he can’t apply pressure, he’ll pull up and clog lanes with some smooth skating, and is already well-known for being a net-front sheriff: if you’re near his crease, you will be taking a beating from this 18 year old until you leave it.
But away from the hitting, Solberg’s bonafides in the mechanics department are pretty solid; he’s got great instincts on defense, but he’s more than willing to jump up into the play and help run the offensive zone from out at the point with some explosive skating, and he’s actually got some solid hands as well, able to rip hard shots from the point and . Put all this together and you have a player who was trusted with crazy minutes for Norway at the World Championships, and has entered the minds of many a fan yearning for a classic, shutdown defender who can throw crunching hits but also wants the skating acumen of a modern player.
In short, he is someone who is extremely easy to sell to the casual fan who wants to know their first round pick was used right.
Of course, there’s always room for improvement, and Solberg’s no different. As an overly aggressive player, the big thing that will follow his game is penalties; he was top 5 on VIF for regular season penalties, and led VIF in trips to the sin bin this year in the playoffs; Probably something he’ll want to keep in mind going forward as he enters a better league in the coming years as he tends to try and hit up high, and on smaller players that could be a major issue for him.
Further, his offensive game is…well, pretty simple for a kid with the potential upside as a 200-foot defender. His skating can help in transition chances, so there’s not much concern there, but his creativity is kinda lacking; he prefers a big bomb shot from the point to any particular level of stick-handling or trying to open up lanes for himself. That’s fine if you’re VIF bullying the rest of the Norwegian league, but it may not serve him well as the games become faster. In fairness, he wasn’t really being asked by VIF to do all the scoring, though he found himself doing a little bit of everything with his national team, where he acquitted himself pretty well, and as such, there’s a real feeling he could conjure a little more than just punishing defensive play as a selling point.
Further, there’s the question of the next big step for him: Solberg will be leaving Norway for the first time next year, heading to Sweden to play for Farjestad BK. FBK is a powerhouse club in a much better league than his home country’s EHL. If he can hone that aggression so it won’t be a detriment to his own team, and use that defensive acumen will be critical to his success.
I would want to see how he plays in FBK, but I know that aggressiveness and defense matters a lot in this fanbase, and if selected, Stian Solberg will be a prospect fans think the world of.
Rankings
- Ranked 20th by EliteProspects.com
- Ranked 20th by TSN’s Bob McKenzie
- Ranked 20th by TSN’s CRAIG BUTTON
- Ranked 25th by THN’s Tony Ferrari
- Ranked 23rd by McKeen’s Hockey
- Ranked 25th by FloHockey
- Ranked 17th by FC Hockey
- Ranked 21st by Daily Faceoff
- Ranked 20th by NHL Central Scouting among European Skaters
- Ranked 65th by DraftPro Hockey
- Ranked 23rd by SportsNet’s Kevin Bukala
- Ranked 30th by Smaht Scouting