Sweden Stock Watch: Stian Solberg already building off first-round pick status

The regular seasons in Sweden have just started. Some top prospects with SHL contracts have been at NHL camps and have missed games as a result. Others, who will be featured in this article, have committed to the entire season in the SHL. It’s always interesting to see which players make their senior team, especially young junior players.

The players highlighted in this article are drafted prospects with intriguing starts to the season.

Stock Rising 📈

Stian Solberg, D, Färjestad BK (Anaheim Ducks)

Stian Solberg’s performance at the men’s world championship in May solidified him as a top prospect and strengthened his case as a first-round pick this summer. His strong finish last season, along with an impressive pre-season, has made him a regular defenceman on a top SHL club at just 18 years old. Solberg plays regularly and is part of the penalty kill. He hasn’t merely been a learner in his first exposure to high-level hockey; he has come into the league and made an immediate impact.

Solberg already looks like a modern defensive defenceman, moving both his feet and the puck impressively well. He doesn’t shy away from joining the rush. He’s already delivered highlight-reel open-ice hits against seasoned professionals, smiling afterwards. Solberg plays a strong defensive game both against the rush and in his own zone, effectively shrinking attackers’ space. I see a lot of a young Niklas Hjalmarsson in Solberg’s style, and his floor seems to be that of a third-pair defenceman. Given how quickly he has translated to the SHL, his ceiling could be even higher as a mobile defensive defenceman on the Ducks' future blue line.

Oskar Vuollet, F, Skellefteå AIK (Carolina Hurricanes)

Oskar Vuollet has hit a hot streak early in this SHL season. Despite limited ice time, he has four goals in seven games. The fifth-round draft pick scored 43 goals and 82 points in 50 games with the J20 team last season, and strong underlying numbers in our data tracking show that his success should come as no surprise. The reason he fell in the rankings was largely due to his lack of above-average tools. In the early days of this SHL season, he has excelled at finding open spaces and capitalizing on good opportunities.

While he likely won’t continue scoring on 30 percent of his shots, his ability to find open spaces and score at this level is promising. He has also demonstrated that he could be a strong top-six option for Skellefteå should their star players struggle or get injured. Vuollet is a quick player with poor skating technique but shows explosiveness and quick decision-making with the puck. He creates give-and-go plays to move the puck in the offensive zone and is capable of carrying the puck through zone entries. Although he remains a long shot to make the NHL, his stock has undeniably risen with this strong start.

David Edstrom, C, Frölunda HC (Nashville Predators)

David Edstrom has already been traded twice, but this shouldn’t be seen as a knock on his development. Right now, he has been the best player in Frölunda over the past few games, which is impressive for a teenager. He centres one of the top lines, generates primary points, and is a calculated player who excels both with and without the puck. He has been used on the penalty kill all season and recently added power play duties.

Defensively reliable, with strong positioning and a knack for winning the puck, Edstrom makes smart plays and excels at finding and handling the puck in high-traffic areas. He can scan the ice while carrying the puck and make intelligent plays. Although he lacks top-end speed and can be beaten in a straight-line race, his smart positioning compensates for this. As a big, intelligent centre, Edstrom can carry the play, create chances in tight spaces, and be trusted in various roles.

Stock Steady ↔️

Otto Stenberg, LW, Malmö Redhawks (St. Louis Blues)

Otto Stenberg moved to Malmö for a better opportunity to play regular SHL hockey this season, and so far, the move has been beneficial. He has earned a spot, received power play time, and registered four points in seven games. When given the chance to make quick, skilled plays with the puck, Stenberg delivers. He plays with intensity and forechecks well with good speed. However, his defensive game has yet to develop, and offensively, he tends to create below the hash marks rather than being the driving force. His transition game also remains underwhelming, and at times, he can appear to be a passenger.

For his stock to rise, I’d like to see him take strides in his all-around game. Regardless of how this season plays out, I expect him to make the jump to North America next season, though a couple of years in the AHL seem likely for starters.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Skellefteå AIK (Detroit Red Wings)

Axel Sandin-Pellikka is an interesting case, as many undersized skilled defencemen from Sweden have failed to live up to hopes of becoming the next Erik Karlsson over the past 6-7 years. However, Sandin-Pellikka seems to have better odds, as his offensive game is borderline elite. His skill and mobility along the blue line are top-notch in the SHL, and he consistently makes smart decisions with the puck. He is poised and rarely rushes a bad pass, scanning the ice and staying in control. If teams aren’t ready to defend the neutral zone when Sandin-Pellikka has the puck, he’ll hurt them.

The question for his NHL future is his ability to defend the rush, battle in front of the net, and retrieve pucks in the corners against bigger and faster opponents on the smaller rink. He isn’t an elite skater like Karlsson, and how he adapts to these situations will determine his NHL success. So far this season, his puck skills have progressed, but I have yet to see him dominate defensively or in puck retrievals.

Stock Falling 📉

Mattias Hävelid, D, Linköping HC (San Jose Sharks)

Mattias Hävelid is definitely a solid SHL defenceman at this point. He is a two-way player who defends well, moves the puck efficiently, and possesses a decent shot. However, his NHL chances seem to be fading, as it’s becoming harder to envision what role he could fill at the next level. I advocated for him in his draft year because, at 17, he was impressively strong in SHL puck battles for his size, and his offensive game shone in junior hockey.

Over the past few seasons, he’s had opportunities to develop into an offensive weapon but hasn’t shown the necessary skill level, and his offensive development has stagnated. Players like him, who aren’t strong enough offensively or defensively, are difficult to slot into NHL roles. Hävelid is a good player who will have a solid career in Europe, but I no longer see an NHL future for him.