The Toronto Maple Leafs pick 23rd in next week's NHL Entry Draft.
Over the last week or so, we've been profiling players the Toronto Maple Leafs should take with their pick.
Yesterday we looked at Cole Huston.
Today we take a look at Stian Solberg.
23 Options for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2024 Draft - Stian Solberg
Stian Solberg was one of many defenseman in this draft who had a varying amount of opinions on his talent.
Some scouting reports were positive about his strong, physical effort and playmaking abilities, while others seemed a little uncertain about his upside and the fact he played in the Norwegian league, where many talented players from smaller hockey countries, such as his fellow compatriot, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, play in countries with better development academies such as Sweden.
Those questions quickly eroded after Solberg made the Norwegian team at the men's World Championship. All of a sudden, Solberg was going from playing with former NHLers and European talent, to having to defend against Brady Tkachuk and Nico Hischier, and was handling himself.
Norwegian defenseman Stian Solberg is a late riser for the 2024 draft, and for good reason. He's been on an absolute tear lately, first in Norway's professional league playoffs and then the World Championships
— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) May 24, 2024
Here's what his play has looked like over the past few months (#72): pic.twitter.com/H6l5g8D2BW
All of a sudden, Solberg seperated himself from a lot of the players swarming to be the next defenseman after the expected run on defense early in the draft, and now, Solberg may have gone from being a consolation to being in that same top-end group.