Edmonton Oilers assign defenceman Philip Broberg to taxi squad
By Zach Laing
2 years agoThe Edmonton Oilers have officially assigned defenceman Philip Broberg to the team’s taxi squad.
Broberg, 19, played in 44 games with Skellefteå AIK in the SHL scoring 13 points in the regular season and no points in 12 playoff games.
This was the natural step for Broberg and his progression as a player, as he appeared to have fallen out of favour in the lineup with his SHL club.
He did, however, play at the World Juniors last year for Sweden, but played with a slight tear above his knee and a partially separated shoulder.
According to PuckPedia, if he plays less than seven games through the remainder of this season — including the regular season and playoffs — Broberg’s entry-level contract will slide for another season, making next year the first of his three-year entry level contract.
One has to imagine this is the plan for Broberg, and I can’t imagine the Oilers wasting a year of his ELC at this point in the season.
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.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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