Stian Solberg

February 2024 – Solberg flew onto our radar at the World Juniors, where he logged massive minutes for Norway. His defensive aggression has stood out consistently in our viewings, the Norwegian blue-liner enjoys playing a violent style of hockey which incentivizes opposing forwards to avoid his side of the ice on the rush. His on-puck decision-making has left room for refinement, but his flashes of offensive dare and shooting skill leave room for optimism that he can develop into an impactful two-way defenseman. While his physicality, defensive aggression, and upside as a rush defender stand out as key strengths, his massive role at the WJC gave him space to show off his ability to be both an offensive transition driver and a real goal-scoring threat. While the massive amounts of time and space in Norwegian pro hockey limits his ability to flash NHL-style offensive plays, we’ve seen enough of his tools, instincts, and defensive habits to justify a top 55 ranking. Sebastian High