Former high-end draft picks are always sought after around the trade deadline, often from non-contending teams if those picks aren’t finding their niche in the NHL with a contender. Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg is one of those players, and it’s been rumored that he has no interest in staying in the organization for a few months.
With the trade deadline approaching, the Oilers should look to use Broberg as potential trade bait for a non-contending team as part of an overall package if they make a move by March 8th. Teams all over the league who won’t play more than 82 games this season with a valuable or even an under-the-radar trade piece to move could clamor for Broberg if they are looking for a high-potential asset on the blue line.
Just because it doesn’t look like things will work out for the former first-round pick in Edmonton, it doesn’t mean that will be the case elsewhere. Since Broberg is a young, unproven player who will be a restricted free agent this summer, there is little risk here if an organization wants to bring him in.
The NHL’s worst teams must call the Oilers to inquire about Philip Broberg
Broberg hasn’t seen ice time in the NHL since November 22nd, and he has just 79 games of NHL experience over the past three seasons. Hardly anything about his game has stuck out throughout his career, but judging from his possession metrics, there is a case to be made that he can transform into a decent puck mover in time.
Broberg’s offensive zone starting percentage at 5-on-5 sat at 47.5 percent across 10 games this season, with a 47.3 percent Corsi For Percentage plus a 48.3 Fenwick For. While this is a small sample size, it shows potential Broberg can play a role in helping a team drive pucks from the defensive zone and find ways to make plays when in possession of the puck.