Defense Prospect Philip Broberg To Get Oilers Call-Up

It's been an up-and-down year for the Edmonton Oilers' top 3 prospect Philip Broberg. The Swedish defenseman failed to make a mark in 10 NHL games with zero points and a minus-2 rating. Then he found his name in the rumor mill, being a trade candidate.

But the Oilers, and Broberg, held firm, and the 22-year-old finished the season strongly with the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. The puck-carrying defender has 12 points in his last 8 games, and has posted 29 assists and 34 points in 48 games, to go along with a solid +9 rating. The Oilers refused to part with him in any trades, and now comes word that he's expected to make an appearance on the Edmonton blueline in the upcoming final two games of the regular season.

Expect Broberg to join Edmonton for final two games of the season in Arizona and Colorado. They have cap space to recall him without having to send anyone down.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) April 14, 2024

Broberg, the No. 8 selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Oilers, played 46 games for Edmonton in the 2022-23 season, and recorded eight points and a +6 rating. But he lost his spot on the third pairing in Oil Town this season to Vincent Desharnais after his 10-game trial at the beginning of the year. Broberg saw his minutes diminish from 16+ on opening night, down to a nominal 5:17 TOI in his last game for the Oilers back on Nov. 22nd.

A two-game trial now would give him (and the Oilers) a chance to see how his newfound confidence can translate to the NHL game before the regular season is done, and to see if he'd be a fit next season. Broberg would likely then head back to Bakersfield where he'd play a key role with the Condors in the AHL playoffs, and maybe a potential call-up if needed for the Oilers in the postseason.

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