Through the first week of training camp, one player has been mentioned more often than any other for his speed and puck carrying ability... and it isn't Connor McDavid but instead young phenom Philip Broberg.
The 6'3 205lb defenseman has been making headlines among all media present at the training camps for looking completely at home among other NHL players. He has scored a couple nice looking goals in scrimmages, gone end to end with the puck and is looking like a top 4 NHL defender.
The question now is how many points is he going to score in the playoffs?
Or at least that is what some overexcited Oilers fans are saying.
Every fall I am forced to write a blog about Player X performing well in training camp and how the fans need to temper their expectations. This year I'm having to do it a little early. Let me present my game hierarchy.
- Training camp inter squad scrimmages do not match the intensity of a pre-season game - Pre-season games don't match the intensity of a regular season game - Regular season games do not match the intensity of playoff hockey
Tomas Jurco, Anton Lander, and Magnus Paajarvi. Three examples of Oilers players who impressed in pre-season but quickly fell off when face to face with real NHL competition. This isn't to say Broberg isn't going to be a good player; what he has shown in camp certainly does bode well for the organization but the Oilers are finally in a place where they have the depth to take their time with their prospects.
Philip Broberg isn't going to get in a single playoff game. He is likely still going back overseas the moment this camp is done. With the likes of Jones, Russell, Lagesson, Bouchard, and Benning all in the system only a catastrophic series of injuries would merit Broberg getting a look. The player celebrated his 19th birthday just under a month ago and is a defenseman.
So that means fans will get to see Broberg in action during the 2020/2021 season then right? Again the answer will likely be no. Holland is going to take his time with his first draft selection as GM of the Edmonton Oilers and develop him the correct way and not develop him in the NHL.
Very few teams that play a large number of rookie players show success in this league, especially rookie blue-liners. If a rookie makes the jump to the NHL next season, it will likely be Evan Bouchard on the right side. Technically the Oilers could run Bear, Jones, Broberg, and Bouchard all in the NHL next season... that would also equal four players with a total of 156 games between them.
In addition, Holland is in tough, managing a cap that will not be increasing for the next few years. Bringing in a number of rookies at the same time also means having to pay them at the same time when they are off their ELC's. Before the beginning of the 2021/2022 season, we are likely going to see some good money given to RNH and Kailer Yamamoto who will both need new contracts, not to mention the contract we are still waiting on for Ethan Bear before next season.
Broberg and Bouchard could both quickly establish themselves and force Holland into a situation where both players will need big raises. Part of his job as a GM is to manage that.
With all that being said, it is great to see Broberg getting the chance to showcase his skills. Many, including myself had hoped the Oilers would have selected one of the talented young forwards like Caufield, Zegras, or Boldy with their 8th overall pick in 2019. Seeing Broberg get some hype now makes the pick feel more justified and makes it easy to imagine him in the lineup sooner rather than later.
I will say, two years from now, the 2022/2023 blueline for the Oilers could look very different and if Broberg continues to trend as he is, we will likely see one of Darnell Nurse or Oscar Klefbom traded. I know exactly which one I would trade too. To end this blog, let me leave you with this lineup:
Nurse-Bear Broberg-Bouchard Jones-Berglund
Thanks for reading!