Edmonton Oilers loan Philip Broberg to Skelleftea AIK of SHL

Baggedmilk: For some Oilers fans, this was a controversial selection at eighth overall so I’m curious how Broberg has progressed in his first post-draft year?

Uffe Bodin: It was a big step for him to step into the SHL at 18 after playing one level below that the previous season. There have been some growing pains for sure, but the positive thing is that he’s with an organization in Skelleftea that is really good at developing young players. He played a lot with Filip Berglund, another player signed by the Oilers, and while they didn’t get a whole lot of ice-time, mostly playing on the third pairing, they both showed signs of making progress.

BM: That’s not an unusual course of events in the SHL, correct?

UB: Broberg didn’t stick out – defensemen of his age rarely do in this league – but he had some good moments of promise. It was a “watch and learn season” for him.

BM: What would you like to see from Broberg from this season to cement himself as a legitimate blue-chip prospect?

UB: You’d like for him to take a step in the right direction offensively. I view him as more of a two-way defenseman than someone who’ll run your power play, but I still feel like there’s a lot of room for improvement offensively compared to what he showed last season. Other than that, it’s just about maturing as a player, becoming more responsible and aware. Hopefully, that will sort itself out when he proves that he’s worthy of a bigger role on the team.

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.