Stian Solberg Going To San Diego, Effective Immediately

Stian Solberg with members of the Anaheim Ducks management and scouting staff and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted 23rd overall in the 2024 NHL entry Draft. © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Norwegian defenseman Stian Solberg, 19, has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks from SHL club Färjestad Karlstad and assigned to their AHL farm team the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks and Färjestad both announced on Sunday.

Solberg was chosen 23rd overall by Anaheim in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The news has come as quite a shock to Färjestad and fans of the team, which is about to start the playoffs, beginning with a quarterfinal series against defending champion Skelleftea AIK.

“Anaheim says they have injuries in the organization and need him with them, and there is not much we can do in the situation,” Färjestad GM Rickard Wallin said on the club’s website.

Wallin called the news “surprising and unfortunate, considering where we are in the season, but we can only focus on the players we have with us and the task ahead.”

“So we simply have to thank Stian for his time with us,” Wallin continued. “He is a very promising player who we think has taken steps forward overall during the year and he has been a popular player in the locker room so we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

If one reads between the lines, Wallin is obviously not thrilled with this decision by Anaheim but, as he mentioned, there’s not much his club can do. Solberg signed a three-year entry-level contract with Anaheim last summer and was loaned to Färjestad. Since his contract is with the Ducks, they get to decide where he plays.

Another Anaheim prospect, Italian goalie Damian Clara, also played most of this season for Färjestad but, unhappy with his development this season, the NHL team reassigned him to Kärpät Oulu of the Finnish Liiga.

In his first SHL season, Solberg scored three goals and added nine assists for 12 points with 16 penalty minutes in 47 regular-season games. He also had three points in 12 games in the Champions Hockey League, where Färjestad lost in the final to the Zurich Lions from Switzerland.

In addition to Färjestad losing him for the SHL playoffs, Solberg's availability to Norway at the IIHF World Championship in May might come into question, depending on how deep San Diego goes into the Calder Cup playoffs.

In late January, it was reported that Swedish defenseman Axel
Sandin-Pellikka will play in North America starting next season. Now,
multiple Swedish media outlets are reporting that he could go as early as this spring.

thehockeynews.comAgent: Axel Sandin-Pellikka Will Go To North America After Swedish PlayoffsIn late January, it was reported that Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka will play in North America starting next season. Now, multiple Swedish media outlets are reporting that he could go as early as this spring.