Oilers to get look at prospect Broberg at World Juniors
Philip Broberg's coming-out party on the international stage was the 2018 Hlinka- Gretzky Cup at Rogers Place, where his dynamic skating on a strong Swedish team jumped out at NHL scouts , even though his fellow defencemen, Tobias Bjornfot and Victor Soderstrom, were getting more love before the draft.
Broberg, who challenged Canada's Bowen Byram as the best D in the tournament with his three goals and a string of end-to-end rushes, was taken eighth overall by the Edmonton Oilers.
Soderstrom went 11th to Arizona and Bjornfot 22nd to
Los Angeles. All three Swedes are back for a reprise in the 2021 World Junior Championship.
“That was a fun tournament for me and the team. I played the game as I wanted to, scored some goals. It was an awesome experience,” said Broberg, flashing back to the tournament where Sweden beat the Russians 2-1 in the semifinal before Canada got the best of them in the gold medal game.
Broberg was a breakout performer along with Russian winger Vasily Podkolzin, who had eight goals and went to Vancouver 10th in 2019.
Swedish winger Lucas Raymond, who was only 16 then but on their No. 1 line, just went fourth overall to Detroit.
Broberg won't double-dip and stick around for Oilers training camp when the world juniors are over here Jan. 6. They want the teenager to concentrate on his game back home. They love Broberg's upside but have a full complement — Evan Bouchard, William Lagesson and Frolunda's Theodor Lennstrom, a veteran on a one-year contract who plays with more pace than Joel Persson — to battle for the seventh and eighth defenceman slots.
“I talked to Philip a week ago and I told him he will go back to Skelleftea until the end of their season and then come back to Edmonton or Bakersfield once they're done,” said Oilers GM Ken Holland.
“We had a long discussion about what was best for me and the future,” said Broberg. “I think I played really well for the training camp for the (August) playoffs and was looking for a spot on the team but I respect their (Oilers) decision and I'll go back, develop more and I'll be ready for the NHL when I come back. We have a strong team. I believe we can win it all.”
Holland is bullish on the 6-foot-3 defenceman who skates like a young Jay Bouwmeester. His edge work is outstanding. Holland would love a guy who can play over 1,200 NHL games like Bouwmeester but he'll leave the, “who does he look like” comparisons to others.
“I hate comparing (kids to
NHL veterans) and putting undue expectations or pressure on a player. I would say he will be a top-four (NHL defenceman). We hope he can be an impact player and impact to me is topfour D,” said Holland.
“If you tell me in two years, Broberg can defend, can make a good first pass and eats up minutes, I would take that all day long.”
Oilers coach Dave Tippett concurs.
“I've watched a bunch of Philip's games (streamed) this season and his game has matured. When I watched him last year in Sweden his team was protecting him (matchups) but he plays a key role now (with Skelleftea). He's playing 17 to 21 minutes a game,” said Tippett, who had his eyes opened in camp last summer.
“Philip came to our camp with something to prove and took real steps forward. He was pushing his agenda hard, seems like he had points or goals in every scrimmage. He played well enough so we kept him (in the bubble).
“I like the wild stallion part ... you just have to figure out when to be wild and when not. It's part of the maturity of a player,” said Tippett. “What I see from Philip is a passion to not just be an NHL player but to be a top NHL player. He's young and aggressive but this year when I watch him, he's much smarter. He's recognizing things.”
Broberg agrees he has improved.
“I've developed more skills
... there's more to just rushing the puck now to my game. I was more one-sided last season and now I'm more difficult to shut down because I can move it and skate it.”