One new addition to the Oilers lineup is the recently recalled Philip Broberg. The 21-year-old former first-round pick was brought up from the American Hockey League on Friday, with Markus Niemelainen going the other way down to Bakersfield.
The change comes with Woodcroft looking for a different dimension on the blueline that he's hoping that Broberg can provide.
"Philip is somebody who moves pucks well, defends with his legs, is also a big body and we're excited about him as being a big part of the future of our organization," Woodcroft said after practice on Friday. "We don't want him to be anything but himself. He has certain strengths and certain gifts, and we want him playing towards those gifts. I would say his legs get him out of trouble. I think he's worked hard on his defending skills, and I just think he'll help us play a faster game."
Broberg certainly has the skills required to play a faster style of game he's being asked to play. The defenceman was selected eighth overall back in 2019 due in part to his skating and puck skills, which he has displayed in spurts at the pro-level. The Swede recorded 23 points (4G, 19A) in 31 American Hockey League games last season, while also scoring his first NHL goal late last year against the San Jose Sharks courtesy of an excellent shot from the top of the faceoff circle.
After scoring four points in seven games down in Bakersfield, along with some other improvements to his game, the Oilers felt the time was right to bring Broberg back to the National Hockey League.
"I'm just happy to be back playing and being healthy. I think I had a good stretch in the AHL now for a good couple of games, and I feel good in playing form," the defenceman said after practice. "I'm always looking to improve every single aspect of my game, but I think the defensive part is for sure element I've been working on for the last three years. I'm just keeping developing that every year and every day trying to get better."
The bright lights of Broadway await the rookie. However, teammate Tyson Barrie believes Broberg has more than enough experience to be prepared for what is an important early-season game for the Oilers.
"There's a couple of spots in the league that are just kind of larger than life and MSG is certainly one of them, playing the Rangers," Barrie said. "Broby has played a bunch of games, which helps for sure -- and he's been around us the last few years and he's got some experience, but it's an exciting opportunity and a great building and we're looking forward to having him up."
I'm sure he can help our team," He added. "I'm sure there'll be a bit of nerves and stuff, but once you make your first pass, you take a hit or give a hit, you kind of get into it."
The Oilers need the rookie to shake off any nerves quickly. The team has been up-and-down as far as the consistency of their game lately and they are suffering in the standings because of it. A 3-7 stretch directly proceeding a 7-3 start is far from ideal, but the Oilers continue to look for answers which they feel remain inside their own room.
"Anybody can point to problems, we're looking for solutions," Woodcroft said. "We're solutions based, solutions oriented, and we really want to give our players something that they can sink their teeth into to help them get out of tough situations. We feel that we have the people in our dressing room necessary to help us get out of sticky circumstance and, as a coaching staff, what we try and do is point them in the right direction and give them tools they need to be successful."
-- Michael Arcuri, EdmontonOilers.com
