Farjestad BK of the SHL announced on Sunday that the Anaheim Ducks have recalled first-round pick Stian Solberg (23rd overall in 2024) to their organization.
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In the 2024 NHL draft, the Ducks traded the 31st overall (originally owned by the Edmonton Oilers) and the 58th overall (originally owned by the Boston Bruins) picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the 23rd pick and the rights to select Solberg (19).
Solberg jumped from the top men’s division in Norway in 2023-24 to the SHL in 2024-25 and played 47 games for Farjestad BK, where he scored 12 points (3-9=12).
“Anaheim says they have injuries in the organization and need him with them, and there is not much we can do in the situation,” Farjestad BK general manager Rickard Wallin said (translated from Swedish). “Surprising and unfortunate and 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. 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.”
When drafted, Solberg was praised for being “the most violent player in the draft,” but displays a surprising amount of skill. He has some refinement to do in the details of his positioning and decision making, but shows a quality base of fundamentals.
Solberg represented Norway at the IIHF World Championship in May 2024, when he tallied three points in seven games (2-1=3) as well as the Olympic Qualifiers, where he added two assists in three games, but Norway failed to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.
Because of an agreement between the IIHF and the NHL, NHL clubs can recall their first-round picks playing internationally at any time. The injury situation seems an odd reasoning to bring Solberg to North America considering the Ducks have seven active defensemen on their roster (four left-shots), as do the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, who ran a lineup on Friday in their game against the Colorado Eagles that included 11 forwards and seven defensemen (three left shots).
The Gulls have 14 games remaining in their 2024-25 season and are seven points out of a playoff spot. The Ducks have 16 games remaining and are eight points out of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference standings. Logic would dictate Solberg will report straight to San Diego, but the situations will continue to be monitored.
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