BLOG: Swedish vets mentoring Broberg

EDMONTON, AB - Philip Broberg has no shortage of fellow countrymen to lean on for mentorship during his time at Oilers training camp.

There are four other Swedes in camp alongside the 2019 first-round draft pick, including fellow blueliners Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson and William Lagesson, as well as forward Joakim Nygard.

The 27-year-old Larsson has taken on the 19-year-old Broberg as his houseguest during camp, with all Oilers staying with the team for the playoffs set to move into the JW Marriott inside the NHL bubble on Sunday, July 26.

"Going through quarantine alone would be pretty tough so it's good to have all my Swedish friends there," said Larsson, who also has Nygard staying with him during camp. "It's a good crew. We're getting along so far, but it's still a long way to go."

As much as Larsson has appreciated the Tre Kronor company at his house, Broberg is just as grateful to have the elder Swedes around as he gets his first NHL experience. He didn't participate in the team's traditional training camp last September since he had already started the SHL season with Skelleftea.

"It's been great," said the eighth-overall selection. "I'm living with Larsson and him and Nygard are taking good care of me at home. It's fun to be around the guys. Everyone has taken care of me really well, so it's fun to be here."

Head Coach Dave Tippett said it's the sign of a good hockey club when you've got established older players taking younger guys under their wings and helping them develop on and off the ice.

"It's a great situation for us because we have some very good veteran guys that are good mentors, they're good people," Tippett said. "It helps that you've got Klefbom and Larsson who are both from Sweden and young Broberg is from Sweden. I'm sure he looks up to them and knows them well... There's a real camaraderie there."

As much as the Swedes have been bonding in their home environment, both Klefbom and Larsson are big fans of Broberg's game and see a bright future in the NHL for the smooth-skating rearguard.

"He's a big, strong guy and a good skater," said Klefbom, who followed a similar path as Broberg and honed his skills in the SHL for two seasons after he was drafted in 2011. "I think he has a lot of potential. I'm very excited to see what he can bring to the organization."

"The sky is the limit for him," Larsson echoed. "He skates really well for being such a big guy. He's big, strong, and has a good hockey sense. He has all the tools to be a really, really good player in this league."

The team has yet to announce whether Broberg will stay in Edmonton for playoffs and enter the NHL bubble or return to Sweden and start preparing for his second SHL campaign with Skelleftea.