Stian Solberg's name wasn't one that was mentioned as part of the conversation about who the Philadelphia Flyers could draft at No. 12, but now that there's been some re-arranging on the draft board, the Norwegian defenseman has gained some traction amongst Flyers fans.
Stian Solberg's name wasn't one that was mentioned as part of the conversation about who the Philadelphia Flyers could draft at No. 12, but now that there's been some re-arranging on the draft board, the Norwegian defenseman has gained some traction amongst Flyers fans.
Solberg's journey to the NHL Draft had an interesting beginning, seeing as he didn't plan on becoming a hockey player at all. His parents originally wanted him to play soccer, but, in a draft that has no shortage of defensemen, Solberg's value has skyrocketed seemingly overnight as he draws more interest from teams looking to bolster their blue lines.
"Standing at 6'2 and weighing in at 203 lbs., he's not the guy you want to see when you're flying down the right-side wing," noted Felix Robbins of McKeen's Hockey. "If you see him, you'd better brace yourself, because you are getting flattened...He's got a mean streak...drawing comparisons to some of the NHL's most revered hitters like Radko Gudas, Luke Schenn, and even Jacob Trouba."
A hard-nosed playing style will always be welcomed with open arms on the Flyers, but in Solberg's case, he's not just "a freight train on skates." He's very positionally aware and has excellent puck-carrying ability, playing "with his eyes up and his head on a swivel."
Scouting reports emphasize that there are plenty of aspects of Solberg's playing that could use improving—most notably facets of his offensive game—but he's proven himself to be a valuable, old-school-style defenseman that can shore up whatever back line he joins.
"Hitting is a skill, and most players will learn how to throw a solid check before reaching the NHL. However, relishing in the malice you inflict on your opponent is not something you can teach," Robbins writes. "Solberg has both of these aspects encoded in his DNA. He'll staple you to the boards, send you upside down with a hip check, and knock the wind right out of you in open ice."
While Solberg is obviously much more complex than just a violent player, his physical presence is already something many teams will be salivating over, and does a great job of keeping opponents to the outskirts of play and wearing them down if they work their way inside.
Combined with a work ethic geared towards consistent improvement and that good old "gritty" label, Solberg has many attributes that the Flyers would find attractive. This sentence from Robbins' scouting report in particular should be enough to get Flyers fans excited if Solberg does don the orange and black: "He may even replace your spine with a carbon fibre stick if you're brave enough to duel with him in the corners and in front of the net. Can you say 'built for the playoffs'?"
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