The Edmonton Oilers surprised some at the 2019 NHL Draft. In need of wingers with the eighth pick in a forward-heavy draft, they went off the board and took Swedish defenseman Philip Broberg.
Edmonton's move was questionable for some, why not invest in a right wing? One that could potentially make the NHL out of camp. The choice was one that will strengthen their blue line depth, but ultimately, it means much more than that. Broberg will bring a lot more than expected to the Oilers' lineup, as long as he gets the time to develop properly.
At 6-3 and 198 pounds, Broberg brings a lot of size and physicality to his game. He has a far reach with his stick and is a solid competitor, able to win puck battles and keep up with his opponents. However, the most impressive part of his game is his skating; he brings a lot of speed and smoothness to the ice, which has helped him build on his ability and become a solid two-way defenseman.
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Additionally, Broberg plays beyond his years, having already played in the Superelit and Allsvenskan leagues back home with AIKJ20 and AIK, respectively. He had eight points in eight games playing with the J20 team before moving up to the main AIK club, where he had two goals and nine points in 41 games.
Though he's not necessarily an offensive-driven defenseman, something Edmonton has needed over the years in order to quarterback its power play and start the breakout, he's a solid left-hand shot who joins the depth chart that already has a handful of LHD prospects.
Led by Caleb Jones and Dmitri Samorukov it appears that Broberg is next in line as there's a current vacancy on the bottom-pairing left side now that Andrej Sekera was bought out. Jones will likely make this jump up, while either Samorukov or Broberg could compete for that extra defensive spot.
Ultimately, Broberg gives the Oilers insurance on the blue line and may be ready to make the jump to the next level sooner than expected; however, this is a prospect that Edmonton cannot rush. He still has a lot of skill to develop and needs to adjust to the North American game. He's an 18-year-old who was taken earlier than projected, making him a high-caliber player that can't — and shouldn't be — rushed.