With Philip Broberg being selected eighth overall at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, we wanted to put together a collection of scouting reports and highlights to give Oilers fans a better idea of what kind of player they’ve brought into the fold. While the Edmonton Oilers selected Broberg slightly higher than he was listed on many lists and rankings, as you’ll soon see, it may not have been as big of a reach as some people thought.

Position: Defence — Shoots: Left
Born: July 25th, 2001 — City: Orebro, Sweden
Height: 6 feet 3 inches — Weight: 198 lbs [90 kg]
Drafted: 8th overall
Major Junior: AIK — League: Allsvenskan

Philip Broberg is a gifted two-way defenseman. His fluid skating ability allows him to punish over-extension immediately with how quickly he can start plays from his own end. On the fly, he pays close attention to where the puck’s going and where it’s been. This allows him to read the play early and make the most of any time and space found. On the downside, his defensive play could be more consistent as well as his decision making. Additional improvement when it comes to his release, as well as puck distribution, could make him a high-scoring defenseman. -Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects

Broberg is a dynamic defenseman because of his frame and elite skating. He has offense in his game and will be a solid defender. There are ways to pick apart his game and season. He’s not a high-end skill type. He didn’t produce a ton, and there is some risk in his game. However, he impressed consistently versus his peer group at the Hlinka Gretzky, the November U18 5 Nations and at the IIHF U18s. He was also quite ill around the time his league performance dipped. I project Broberg to be a top pairing defenseman in the NHL. He won’t be a top power play guy by any means, but he will be a second unit type who can play tough minutes and drive play while playing against opponents best players. -Corey Pronman, The Athletic

Broberg will likely look to continue his growth in Sweden next year. He is at least a year or two away from the NHL. He could grow to become a top-pairing player at the NHL level, with the ability to play big minutes and on both the power play and penalty killing unit. Broberg’s skating ability will help him to take advantage and make an impact in the new NHL. In terms of a stylistic comparison, his game is reminiscent of Mattias Ekholm but this is not a comparison based on skill or ability. -Last Word on Hockey

Broberg has great speed which is pretty rare for a six-foot-three defenseman. He can also handle the puck at high speed. His lateral movement isn’t great, though, and his puck-skills and vision don’t seem to be high-end. Broberg still needs to improve his defensive game but with his size and hockey sense, it’s expected that part of his game will continue to grow. With his late June birthday, Broberg is pretty young for the 2019 NHL Draft. He’s a lock for the first round, and some teams may even consider him in the top ten. Broberg will represent Team Sweden at the World Juniors as the only first-time draft-eligible player on that roster but his role is expected to be small. -Jokke Nevalainen, Dobber Prospects

He manages the puck smartly in his own zone and is known to make smart passes to break the puck out of his defensive zone. –McKeen’s Hockey

Broberg’s selection on Sportsnet:

Post Draft Interview:

Highlight pack from the 2018-19 season:

International Tournament Highlights: