Blues 2024 NHL Draft Target: Stian Solberg
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We have spent the last week profiling prospects who may be available to the St. Louis Blues with their first round pick. Now, as reported by fellow St. Louis Site Editor Lou Korac, the team could move up or down with the pick. Or, trade the pick for a young roster player, or make the pick.
Doug Armstrong appears to be leaning towards making the selection as of today, but anything can happen on that draft floor, especially in the scorching heat of Las Vegas.
So far, we’ve covered OHL skillful power forward Liam Greentree, right winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Czech defenseman Adam Jiricek, offensive defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, and two-way centerman Jett Luchanko.
Brandsegg-Nygard is projected to become the highest-drafted Norwegian player in their country’s history. However, his countrymate Stian Solberg has drastically raised his draft stock after his performance for Norway at the IIHF World Championships.
The Blues love their big, rugged, physical defensemen. That’s essentially Solberg’s game in a nutshell. He's been labeled as the hardest hitter in his draft class.
Fun fact, Solberg told the media at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo earlier this month that he switched to playing defense when he was 14 after one of his teammates peed in a shower and his coach told Solberg to take his place on the blueline.
“Solberg is something of a throwback defender. His best attributes are how hard he plays and how well he uses his physicality to his advantage,” said Derek Neumeier, McKeen’s Hockey Assistant Director of Scouting
St. Louis added a smooth skating, puck moving defenseman in the first round of the 2023 draft in Theo Lindstein. Suppose the organization wants to pivot and add a defenseman with the upside of becoming a stay-at-home shutdown-pairing defenseman. Then they would be wise to draft the 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-shot defender.
ESPN’s, Rachel Doerrie had the Blues taking Solberg with their first round pick, and many have him as a lock to go in the first round. But would the team selecting him at No. 16 be a reach?
The team could try and trade down if they believe he will still be available in the 20s, but that’s a gamble they will have to decide on when they are on the draft floor in the Sphere Friday night.
The 18-year-old played a top four role for Vålerenga in Norway’s top pro league and assisted the team in advancing to the Championship Final. After losing in the finals, Solberg made his way over to represent his country at the World Championships where all the scouts raved about his play against NHL players.
He was voted one of Norway's top three players in the tournament, which is an impressive achievement given his age.
THN’s scouting expert Tony Ferrari (ranked him 25th) had this to say about Solberg, “He’s a better player when he keeps his game simple with the puck, makes safe outlets, and does not try to do too much. He lacks the puck skill and dynamic skating to be much more than a simple facilitator."
"Crushing players and playing defense is where he is going to make his money.”
Many other scouts have voiced similar concerns regarding Solberg’s ceiling. And the question is, is it worth drafting a player in the middle of the first round who plays a one-dimensional game?
He does possess a booming shot and Derek Neumeier credited him for making progress to play off the blueline more and look for opportunities to get into the scoring areas in the offensive zone this season. But he doesn’t scream out as a defenseman who will consistently drive play offensively.
St. Louis has drafted a forward with their first round selection in the last four years, including two in 2023 in Dalibor Dvorsky and Otto Stenberg. So it makes sense for Doug Armstrong and his staff to target a defenseman at pick No. 16.
Stian Solberg’s size and physicality could have him higher on their list than others, but just how high? We may find out that answer tomorrow night.