If we walk out of the draft with another highly picked left d it will be because someone unexpected fell a very long way. I can not see any scenario where they take the 4th highest rated left d at pick 11 to put behind two first overall picks and a guy they just made a big trade for…all of whom are incredibly young.
There’s no scenario where he is arguably the BPA in my opinion. Unless they trade down and he’s all that’s left. But at 11? You will never convince me to take him over MBN or Helenius or Luchanko…never mind whichever of Catton/Senneke/Iginla almost has to fall. If none do…a better LHD did.
#1) I think he’s the third best LHD. Better than Dickinson. I know I’m on an island, but that’s were I’m at.
#2) I don’t take him over Catton or Iginla. I like him better than everyone else you mentioned, although MBN, Senneke, and Helenius are all in the same bucket for me with Solberg. As is Dickinson. I don’t see a lot of separation here. They are all B+ prospects, none of these guys are super high end, can’t miss prospects. So for me, I take the guy with the greatest concentration of attributes that the org is low on. That’s easily Solberg for me.
#3) I don’t expect Bryram to be here in 3-4 years. So the logjam at LHD is behind one who plays better on his right side, a legit top pairing LHD, and a 3rd pairing D who can’t stay healthy.
#4) The roster has a wealth of high end D. The prospect pool does not. With the possible exception of MBN, all of these guys are 3 years away.
#5) Nearly every player who is most notable for making lots of big hits does so at the expense of playing actual defense. Solberg is rare in that despite being known for putting guys on their ass, he almost never takes himself out of the play to do so. Of all the players in this tier, he has the highest ceiling to me. With a solid floor.