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Oilers Recall Top Prospect in Philip Broberg Due to Multiple Injuries

By Colton Pankiw |
Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Philip Broberg poses for a photo with Wayne Gretzky after being selected as the number eight overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Philip Broberg poses for a photo with Wayne Gretzky after being selected as the number eight overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Edmonton Oilers fans will get the chance to see one of their top prospects in his first NHL action at some point in the near future, as it is being reported by numerous sources that the team has recalled defenceman Philip Broberg from the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Broberg, 20, was selected by the Oilers with the eighth overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The young Swedish defenceman is said to have an extremely high upside, and was even being compared to Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman ahead of the 2019 draft.

After being drafted, Broberg spent two seasons playing in the Swedish Hockey League before coming to North America for the 2021-22 campaign. He has been as advertised to this point with the Condors, registering an impressive 10 assists in just 13 games.

While the call up is exciting news for Oilers fans however, the reasoning is not. During last nights game versus the Winnipeg Jets, Slater Koekkoek went down awkwardly into the boards near the Oilers bench in the first period and was very slow to get up. He did briefly return during the second period, but lasted just two shifts before his night was over. Even worse for the Oilers, however, is that Darnell Nurse is also expected to miss some time due to a broken finger.

Head coach Dave Tippett told reporters that the injury occurred late in the third period. Nurse was able to stay in the game and played often in the overtime period, but afterward was in some discomfort and got checked out. This obviously creates a huge hole for this team, as Nurse has averaged over 26 minutes in ice time this season and is their undisputed number one defenceman. In 16 games on the season he has eleven assists.

As for Koekkoek, 27, this has to be extremely frustrating given that he was forced to miss the majority of the 2020-21 season after breaking his collarbone just 18 games in. Despite the very brief showing in his first season as an Oiler, he was able to earn himself a new two-year deal this offseason as a depth defender on the left side. He has played in 11 games this season, notching one assist while averaging under 10 minutes in ice time.

With the injuries, both Nurse and Koekkoek join Mike Smith and Devin Shore as the other current rostered Oilers players on the shelf. This will be a huge test for the Oilers, who will need Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to continue dominating until this team gets healthy once again.

Though nothing official has been announced from the team yet, it is possible we see Broberg in action as soon as Saturday night versus the Chicago Blackhawks. It will be interesting to see where Tippett chooses to slot him in, but given the current injury situation he may not get eased in as much as a typical rookie defenceman.

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