DONE DEAL: NY Rangers completes the signing of a top veteran after much talks

With the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the NY Rangers could be relegated to selecting talent projected to go in the late-first and early second round, but we’re also aware that quite a few prospects can freefall on draft day. So we don’t need to count on that being the case for the Blueshirts when they’re on the clock come June 28th; we need to expect it because somebody will fall.

In an earlier post, I discussed three blueliners the team should keep an eye on, and while all of them are good players, none are potential freefallers. Tankathon’s mock draft on June 16th emphasizes this point further, as only Cole Hutson is expected to go in the first round, and he is ranked 26th overall.
So, if Hutson slips to the 30th pick, I’m hesitant to label him a free faller. Instead, let’s talk about someone who could make the top 15, but I won’t get ahead of myself and predict that Carter Yakemchuk, for example, will fall to 30th place. But there is one player that I can see: Stian Solberg.

If Stian Solberg falls, the New York Rangers will have an easy time in the first round of the NHL draft.
Standing at 6’2″ and 201 pounds, Stian Solberg’s size is already a significant advantage, as is the fact that he has more than a fair share of pro hockey experience in Norway, having played in 71 regular season games with Valerenga from 2021-22 to 2023-24. He will step up for the 2024-25 season and begin his SHL career with Farjestad BK.