As we begin the 2024 NHL Draft, The Hockey News will present one last prospect option for the New York Islanders to select at No. 20.
We now review left-shot defenseman Stian Solberg .
See prior articles on Michael Hage , Adam Jiříček , Sacha Boisvert , Andrew Basha , Nikita Artamanov , Jett Luchanko , and Ryder Ritchie .
The Oslo, Norway native Solberg scored five goals with 10 assists for 15 points in 42 games with Vålerenga of Eliteserien, Norway’s top professional men’s league.
Solberg scored nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 playoff games and averaged 25 minutes a night during the recent World Juniors.
What separates Solberg from other defensemen in his draft class through physicality.
Standing at 6’ 2” and weighing in at 205 pounds, Solberg has already filled out his frame. He uses this to his advantage, laying out hard hits and knocking opponents off the puck.
Solberg’s physicality helps him excel in the defensive zone, especially in the front of the net, an area where the Islanders certainly lacked this past season.
However, Solberg is more than a simple hitting machine.
According to scout Joe Maciag of Recruit Scouting, Solberg “owns a very well-rounded skating game” with “solid straight-line speed” and “impressively quick feet” for his size.
These qualities help Solberg control play in all three zones.
While Solberg may not be a top offensive defenseman in this draft, he still possesses strong skills and upside. Solberg has impressive awareness of when to pinch and a more-than-serviceable wrist shot. At the World Juniors, Solberg led the Norwegian offense through confident transition play.
As an old-school style defenseman, Solberg is divisive when it comes to rankings.
Some scouts place him in the middle of the first round, while others put him far later. If another team wants a high-end physical blue-liner, Solberg may not reach the Islanders. It is also possible that he falls far further than the No. 20 pick.
Why would Solberg be a good option for the Islanders?
Solberg is a unique defenseman with his physicality, defensive instincts, and decent offensive upside.
The Islanders’ prospect pool has few if any, defensemen with attributes like those of Solberg. 2022 2nd-round pick Calle Odelius and 2022 4th-round pick Isaiah George have styles more centered around smooth skating—adding Solberg would diversify the Islanders’ prospects.
Solberg would also match the modus operandi of the Islanders’ d-corps.
With bulky, physical defensemen such as Alexander Romanov , the Islanders’ defense centers around making strong plays on the puck. Solberg’s skills match this identity perfectly.
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