Philip Broberg Emerging as a Core Piece for the Blues - But Extension Talks Still on Hold
Philip Broberg has gone from a promising prospect in Edmonton to a cornerstone defenseman in St. Louis - and now, he’s playing his way into a major payday. But despite his breakout performance since arriving via offer sheet, the Blues have yet to open contract extension talks with the 22-year-old blueliner.
That’s not for lack of performance.
After being drafted eighth overall in 2019, Broberg struggled to find consistent footing with the Oilers. But since landing in St.
Louis, he’s been a revelation. Last season, he logged 29 points, a +21 rating, and averaged a hefty 23:25 of ice time per game.
That’s top-pair production by any metric, and it’s come while playing in all situations - even strength, power play, penalty kill. You name it, he’s out there.
This season, the numbers are a bit quieter - 10 points through 26 games - but the impact is still there. Broberg’s playing heavy minutes and handling tough assignments, and he’s doing it with a calm, confident presence that’s quickly earning him the trust of the coaching staff.
“He’s been incredible for us this year,” Blues head coach Jim Montgomery said. “If our record was better, I think people would be talking about him a lot more in the league. He’s been a tremendous hockey player from the start of the year.”
That’s not lip service. Montgomery has leaned heavily on Broberg, and it’s clear the defenseman has taken a significant step forward in his development.
The physicality is sharper. The decision-making is quicker.
He’s winning more puck battles, pushing play up the ice, and showing flashes of the dynamic two-way game that once made him a top-10 pick.
“What I find is his attitude of being harder and firmer in battles and taking pucks to harder areas offensively has really made him a lot more dynamic offensively and in his 200-foot game,” Montgomery added. “You can see his man strength has come out and he’s taken his game to another level, just the way he competes night in and night out.”
That’s the kind of growth that gets a player paid - and the Blues know it.
While there’s no official extension talk underway yet, the numbers being floated around the league are sizable. A deal could land somewhere in the $6.7 million to $8 million range annually, which would make Broberg the highest-paid defenseman on the team. That might sound steep, but for a player logging top-pair minutes and trending upward at just 22, it could be a smart long-term investment.
For the Oilers, though, this has to sting. Broberg was once seen as part of their future blue line core - a mobile, puck-moving defenseman with upside. Now he’s thriving elsewhere, and Edmonton is left wondering what could’ve been.
Meanwhile, the Blues are trying to build something around him.
Broberg’s not just filling a role - he’s becoming the kind of player you build around. And if St.
Louis wants to keep him in the fold long-term, it’s only a matter of time before the extension talks begin. Judging by the way he’s playing, they’d be wise to get ahead of it.