The blueliners currently in the Montreal Canadiens pipeline look promising, and it makes more sense for general manager Kent Hughes to roll with forwards with his first and second picks. Since we should have a great idea of which forward he will take with his first selections, the second first-rounder will be more than interesting to speculate.
While it wouldn’t be surprising if Hughes continued to roll with forwards in the second round, there are still plenty of quality blueliners for him to take when it’s time for him to call a name once again. However, since it’s likely Hughes won’t get many projected first-rounders falling to him with a later pick in the second round, it makes more sense to be realistic with who should be available.
The players you’re about to meet aren’t the flashiest blueliners in the draft, and like most, if not all, slated to be taken on Day 2, they will be long-term developmental projects. But it never hurts to get familiar with a few names that may find themselves in the Habs system once the final weekend in June rolls around.
Stian Solberg, LD/Valerenga
Stian Solberg will start his career in Sweden once the puck drops later this year, and he’s the type of late second, early third-round pick who a team like the Canadiens can leave over in Europe for two seasons before they bring him to North America and into the AHL, Laval in Montreal’s case.
His 6’2, 201 lbs frame brings more than decent size, and his productivity on the back end isn’t bad, with Solberg putting up 15 points and five goals in 42 regular season games before he added another two goals and seven helpers across 17 postseason outings.
Solberg played for a good hockey team in Norway’s professional league, the EHL, so we will get a better look at what he brings once he sees ice time in Farjestad BK’s system in the SHL. He may not have played in the most high-end league so far, but judging from his size and performance at ages 17 and 18, Solberg should be fine as he begins his stint in Sweden.