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2019 first round selection Philip Broberg makes his Copper and Blue Top 25 debut at number 5.
Let’s see how he got there.
| Corey | Shona | Matt | Preston | Jeff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
The eighth overall selection in the 2019 Entry Draft was Swedish defenceman Philip Broberg. I didn’t love the pick, but I didn’t loathe it either. At 8th overall, Broberg felt more like a “draft for need” rather than “best player available”. Still, there’s plenty to like about Broberg’s skill set and projection.
PHILIP BROBERG
Broberg was the third defenceman taken in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft after Colorado selected Bowen Byram and Detroit selected Moritz Seider. He was drafted three positions ahead of fellow countryman Victor Sodertstrom, who was picked up by the Coyotes. Fleet-footed and agile, the 6’3” left-handed shot is a gifted player with the puck. Broberg will bring the puck up ice with ease, which is music to this fan’s ear. A converted forward, Broberg is often found in the thick of the offence. One area that Broberg will likely work on improving is his shot.
WHY PHILIP BROBERG IS RANKED #5 IN OUR TOP 25
There’s far more upside to Philip Broberg than downside, and there’s a good chance he’ll be making an impact as soon as the 2020-21 season.
Can confirm the Swedish report that Philip Broberg will play next season for Skelleftea in Sweden, not OHL Hamilton.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) July 7, 2019
Broberg certainly wasn’t the sexy pick at 8th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. It’s clear as day that the Oilers need scoring on the wings, and they need them to start hitting the NHL pronto. Broberg might not be the sniper that they badly need, but the Oilers do receive a player that’s going to help bolster up what’s been a suspect defence. A muted projection for Broberg would be a top four player with power play time, though that’s probably selling the player short. An exciting player with the puck, Broberg excels at breaking up plays with his extended reach. Broberg often seems to transition seamlessly into offence once he’s broken up a play, which will no doubt be helpful when on the ice with a certain generational talent.
Broberg opted to play for Skelleftea in 2019-20 before making the transition to North America. With 2018 first round selection Evan Bouchard slated to make his professional debut this season, the Oilers have some rock solid pieces in the system as they strive to build up on the back end.