Price is Soaring On Pending RFA Philip Broberg; No Extension Talks Yet

He was the steal of the 2024 offseason (literally), after the St. Louis Blues pilfered Philip Broberg (and Dylan Holloway—another steal) from the Edmonton Oilers with an offer sheet. Broberg, on an expiring two-year, $9.16 million contract ($4.58M AAV), will be a restricted free agent after the season, but talks on an extension have not yet begun with the Blues.

Jeremy Rutherford writes in The Athletic that Broberg has been the Blues’ MVP through the first quarter of the season. And head coach Jim Montgomery seems to agree. But still, no contract talks. And the price tag, writes Rutherford, keeps going up.

In October, The Athletic projected a 6.7 million AAV, but with Broberg’s play so far, his next deal is likely to be an eight-year, $64 million ($8 million AAV) extension, or even more. He will be a restricted free agent on July 1, if unsigned by then.

And yet, GM Doug Armstrong isn't in any rush to get an extension done. "There's no rush with that," he said earlier in the season. He has indicated that talks could begin in December. That would be right around now.

Blues GM still plans to get Broberg re-signed, though talks have not begun

“We’re going to try and get (Broberg & Holloway) signed as quick as we can. If not, they’re restricted free agents. We’ll make sure that we leave enough space available to get those guys signed," Armstrong said. "The cap’s going up. It’s nice to know, with (other) guys signed, what we can do moving forward. And we can always create space.”

Broberg is logging a full three minutes more of ice time per night this season, up to 23:25, and has 10 points in 26 games along with 45 blocked shots.

The Blues have the NHL’s second-worst goal differential (-23) this season, yet Broberg is just a -1.

"You can see his man strength has come out and he’s taken his game to another level, just the way he competes night in and night out," Montgomery said. "I think it’s 99% his realization that he can take over games, and it’s just a mindset.”

That 'mindset' will make Broberg a very rich young man by the time next July roll around. Perhaps a lot sooner if the Blues & his reps finally get down to business.