Philip Broberg’s Breakout in St. Louis Raises Big Questions-and a Bigger Price Tag
The St. Louis Blues are sitting near the bottom of the league standings, and with the trade deadline looming, it’s fair to expect some roster shakeups.
But not every player on an expiring deal is headed out the door. One name that’s firmly in the “keep” column-at least for now-is defenseman Philip Broberg.
Broberg has emerged as one of the few bright spots in a tough season for St. Louis.
Acquired from the Edmonton Oilers via offer sheet last year, the former No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft is finally showing why he was such a highly touted prospect. And while there haven’t been any formal contract talks yet, his play is making a strong case for a long-term investment.
Let’s rewind for a second. Broberg’s time in Edmonton was underwhelming, at least on paper.
Over three seasons, he suited up for just 81 NHL games, averaged a modest 12:42 of ice time, and put up two goals and 13 points. It wasn’t exactly the résumé of a future top-pair defenseman.
But in St. Louis, the script has flipped.
Last season, Broberg played in 68 games and posted career highs across the board-eight goals, 29 points, and a +21 rating while averaging over 20 minutes a night. That’s not just a jump; it’s a leap. The nearly eight-minute increase in average ice time unlocked a different version of Broberg, one that had been buried in a crowded Oilers blue line.
And the advanced numbers back it up. Broberg led the Blues in even-strength on-ice save percentage last year at 93.7%, despite starting more than half of his shifts in the defensive zone.
Compare that to his 87.7% mark over three seasons in Edmonton, and the difference is striking. He wasn’t just playing more-he was playing better.
Fast forward to this season, and Broberg is continuing that upward trend. Through 26 games, he’s already logged two goals and 10 points while averaging a hefty 23:25 of ice time per night.
His plus-minus has dipped to -1, but context matters here: the Blues are second-to-last in the league with a -23 goal differential. A near-even rating in that environment speaks to Broberg’s ability to hold the line under pressure.
So where does that leave the Blues?
Well, according to GM Doug Armstrong, there’s no urgency-at least not publicly-to get a deal done right away. “There’s no rush with that,” Armstrong said recently.
“We’re going to try and get them signed as quick as we can. If not, they’re restricted free agents.
We’ll make sure that we leave enough space available to get those guys signed.”
Translation: the Blues are in wait-and-see mode, but they’re keeping Broberg in their long-term plans. And they’ll need to, because locking him up won’t come cheap.
Depending on the term, Broberg’s next deal could land anywhere between $6.7 million and $8 million annually, according to various projections. AFP Analytics pegs a long-term extension at around $7.32 million per year. Any of those figures would make him the highest-paid defenseman on the team.
That kind of payday usually comes with expectations of offensive firepower. Broberg isn’t lighting up the scoreboard like some of the league’s elite puck-moving defensemen, but that’s not really his game.
What he brings is stability, mobility, and the ability to eat big minutes in all situations. He’s a shutdown specialist with enough offensive instincts to contribute, but his real value lies in what he prevents rather than what he produces.
For a team in transition, that’s a valuable piece to build around.
So while trade chatter will swirl around many names in St. Louis over the next few months, don’t expect Broberg to be one of them.
The Blues took a calculated gamble when they brought him in, and it’s paying off. Now comes the next big decision: how much are they willing to pay to keep him?
Given what we’ve seen so far, the answer might need to be: whatever it takes.