ROSTER REDUX: Philip Broberg

EDMONTON, AB - A defenceman's development path is slow and steady and the Oilers hope Philip Broberg is one step closer to being a full time contributor on the blueline.

The highly lauded prospect has continued to handle more and more responsibility since he was drafted eighth overall back in 2019 and it's hard to believe that Broberg is less than two months removed from his 22nd birthday.

The Orebro, Sweden native had only skated in 21 NHL games prior to the 2022-23 season and entered the year trying to get a 'bigger piece of the pie' to quote General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland. Broberg came into Oilers rookie camp physically ready, having gained 12 lbs of muscle during the offseason.

"Yeah, I put on some pounds for sure," he said during rookie camp. "I want to take a step in my defensive game. I think getting stronger is a big part of that. Being able to play hard down low and get better at boxing out guys. I really pushed with trying to get stronger in the summer and I'm happy with the results."

Unfortunately for the top prospect, training camp had its ups and down with an injury and some strong play by Markus Niemelainen forcing Broberg to begin the season with the Bakersfield Condors. After finding his way back into the AHL affiliate's lineup on Oct. 29, Broberg recorded four points (2G, 2A) and 13 shots in his final four games with the Condors before being promoted to the Oilers for the remainder of the season.

Broberg was eased back into the lineup while Head Coach Jay Woodcroft used his successful 11-and-7 deployment, but by mid-January the defender had begun to find his stride next to another youthful Oilers blueliner in Evan Bouchard.

"I think Broberg has come in and he appears to me to be getting better or growing before our eyes," Woodcroft said on Jan. 13 prior to the Oilers 7-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. "He's someone who moves pucks well. He separates from opponents when he has a step, and he's playing a subtle but effective game. I think he's helped Evan Bouchard at five-on-five, and they should feel good about the game they laid down the other day in Anaheim."

"He's a great defenceman, great skater, can skate his way out of problems and moves the puck well as well," Bouchard said about playing with Broberg. "He makes things easy for me, talks well. I think now we're meshing well together."

"I think we've found some chemistry on the back end," Broberg said of his partnership with Bouchard. "Both of us can break the puck out well and skate well and be an offensive threat. It's been going really good so far, and we've just got to keep it going."

In the Oilers victory over the Sharks the same night as the heaps of praise from his coach and teammates, Broberg would play a season high 18:44. Between Jan. 1 to Feb. 17, Broberg recorded six assists in 18 games while posting a plus-14 rating. Unfortunately for Broberg, his growth would eventually see a setback due to the addition of a former Condor and a fellow Swede.

Vincent Desharnais emerged as a steady contributor for the Oilers in the latter half of the season, with his poise under pressure and massive wingspan helping Edmonton ratchet up their defence heading into the postseason. Broberg's partner in Bouchard found a larger role with the Oilers after Tyson Barrie was dealt to the Nashville Predators and veteran defender Mattias Ekholm joined the fray.

From March onward, Broberg suited up for just 11 regular season games and only played more than 10 minutes in four of those contests. He notched his only goal of the season in a 6-1 victory over the Sharks in Game 79 of the Oilers season. The young defenceman saw time in 10 of the Oilers 12 postseason games, but saw his ice time range from 9:49 to as little as 3:10, with Blue & Orange typically playing seven defenders.

The bumps along the development path are ones to learn from for Broberg, who is still just 69 games into his National Hockey League career.

"You look at Evan Bouchard, where he was when he was 21 years of age, the same age [as Broberg], we were in the Canadian division. I think Bouchard played 11 games out of the 56. He had to kind of wait his time and it's turned out pretty good," Holland said in his end-of-season press conference. "I think Philip is a different player than Evan Bouchard. We're in the win-now mode, that's why I acquired a 32-year-old defenceman by named Ekholm at the deadline. That's why I resigned, and made the moves that we made like Kulak. So obviously, it makes it more difficult for young players to play. We're trying to win."

"What's my message [to Broberg and other young prospects]? We're trying to win. I've got to figure out exactly how we get Philip Broberg from where he's at, to being a regular. I've got to sort that out."