Looking at NHL Draft prospect Stian Solberg
The Vegas Golden Knights have a surplus of defensemen right now. So why should they explore taking Stian Solberg in the NHL Draft?
The Vegas Golden Knights are in a unique position. The team normally known for forward depth and scoring suddenly has five players leaving for free agency. There are a couple of options: Sign some depth guys or draft a forward in the upcoming NHL Draft. Granted, they can do both since they do have a first-round pick. However, they have four overall picks in this year's draft.
But here's a wild proposal for you, dear reader. Why not go defense and pick a defenseman with the 19th overall pick, particularly Stian Solberg? The prospect is ranked in some draft boards near No. 19 and has a physical style. He would instantly fit into Bruce Cassidy's forecheck and become an imposing force.
After all, such players are appreciated by the Golden Knights. Look at players like Keegan Kolesar and Paul Cotter, two guys who've made a name for themselves with their physical play. Punishing opponents into the boards can wear them down and even lead to turnovers, putting Vegas on the offensive attack.
Picking a forward in this year's NHL Draft sounds extremely tempting given the Vegas Golden Knights's current situation. Vegas doesn't have much forward prospect depth to work with, after all. Their talent will either not return to the team or won't amount to a prominent role. That's why numerous mock drafts have the team picking a center or winger in the first round.
But there are some reasons why the Golden Knights should take a flyer on Stian Solberg. The team isn't getting any younger and injecting hard-hitting youth will move them ahead. Here's a look at what the Norwegian defenseman can bring to Vegas.
Stian Solberg's profile
Stian Solberg is an old-school defenseman, focusing primarily on his defensive play. He loves hitting his opponents at every turn, delivering devastating hip checks to unfortunate players. Think of Scott Stevens during his heyday with the New Jersey Devils. It's a part of what makes the NHL Draft prospect an intriguing pick.
The funny thing is both players are similar in size, with both defensemen standing at 6'2". Granted, Stevens weighs more than Solberg, with the legendary New Jersey Devil weighing 215 lbs. However, the Norwegian prospect still has some size at 194 lbs., making him a punishing player on the ice.
The native of Oslo has a left-handed shot and played for Hasle/Loren during his youth. He spent the majority of his amateur time playing in Norway for Valerenga, where he didn't light up the stat sheet. In three seasons with the club (71 games), he scored six goals and 14 assists. The 18-year-old isn't going to score goals at will. However, there are numerous benefits the Norwegian defenseman brings to the Vegas Golden Knights.
What Stian Solberg brings to the Vegas Golden Knights
If there were a modern comparison for Stian Solberg, it would be Brayden McNabb. The defenseman plays a physical style, laying his body out every play. Whether he hits his opponents on the boards or block shots, McNabb is more of a pure defenseman on the Vegas Golden Knights.
Next season will also be the last year of his current deal, so he'll need a replacement. That's where Solberg comes in, for he can deliver devastating hits defensively. He has a good transitional game, making him a valuable asset on the forecheck. That's in part to his smooth skating, where he can move around the ice flawlessly. If he can develop his offensive game more, the Oslo native can become functional for Vegas.
But he's also valuable on special teams, specifically on the penalty kill. His defensive mind helps him see the play ahead, stopping incoming passes and shot opportunities. The Golden Knights emphasize the forecheck in their style, creating turnovers. Solberg will fit in perfectly as a defenseman, adding more physicality to Vegas.
The verdict
Stian Solberg's physical style is extremely tempting for an NHL team. He lives off delivering crushing hits on the ice at every juncture, which would bolster various aspects of the Vegas Golden Knights. Add in a penchant for killing penalties and he's an underrated NHL Draft prospect. Imagine Solberg and William Karlsson on the penalty kill, stopping any offense from happening. That would be an incredible special teams duo.
If the draft shakes out just right, he could be a viable pick for Vegas. Their defensive style focuses on the forecheck, taking the puck away from opposing offenses. The team's average age is 30.1, which means they're not getting younger. Therefore, there's more incentive to add the hard-hitting defender. However, there might be a major factor stopping him from going to the Golden Knights.
The priority will be at the forward position, with numerous key pieces leaving this summer. There are also other pieces leaving next season, with Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar in that realm. Kelly McCrimmon will focus on adding more depth to the position, which could take precedence over drafting a defenseman. Although there's a smaller chance of Vegas taking a defenseman in the first round, his hard-hitting style might be too tempting to pass up.
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