In what has become a truly organization-shifting move, Doug Armstrong shocked the hockey world last Summer with an offer sheet tendered to Edmonton Oilers Defenseman Philip Broberg and Forward Dylan Holloway. At the time fans werevery optimistic about the potential of these two players, however Philip Broberg has exceeded all expectations in his 18 months with St. Louis - becoming arguably the most important player to the team in that short time.
A Defenseman That Can Meet Every Challenge
To say Philip Broberg is an elite player and the backbone of the Blues defense is an understatement. He has been absolutely lights out from the moment he put on the Blue Note, and has only continued to thrive as he's given more and more responsibility on the blue line.
Averaging just over 12 minutes per game and less than 30 games per year in his three seasons with Edmonton, Broberg was looking to be given the ice time and respect he believed he deserved and St. Louis was more than willing to give him that. Broberg has shouldered a huge amount of responsibility for the Blues, averaging 26:32 ice time per game in the month of March including a ridiculous 32:51 TOI in the Blues' OT win over the San Jose Sharks on the 6th.
You would never know that by watching him though. Broberg is a rock on the blue line, making next to no mistakes and playing some of the most responsible and fundamentally sound hockey in the league. He routinely locks down some of the most dynamic offensive threats in the world in McDavid, MacKinnon, and Celebrini. He is who the rest of the team looks to when they need to slow the game down and collect themselves in the D-zone.
On top of this, he has a great feel for offense. Broberg knows when to push the puck down the ice himself with surprising speed and silky smooth skating, something that almost always results in a great opportunity for any Blues forward able to keep up with him. But Broberg doesn't just pass the eye test, his under-the hood analytics show he is truly elite.
The Numbers Agree, Broberg is a Star
Much like Robert Thomas on the offensive end, the Blues go as Broberg goes at the blue line. Broberg is the only starting defenseman for the Blues with a positive +/- at +1 in a season that having a positive +/- as a D-man is next to impossible. Broberg has done that despite comfortably being the TOI leader for the Blues, a full minute more per game than Blues defensive stalwart and minute muncher Colton Parayko.
The Blues recognize this and have responded accordingly. Broberg and the Blues agreed to a 6-year extension to his contract this season, with an AAV of $8 million. This shows the organization has the upmost faith in Broberg and he has faith that the Blues team will be a competitive one. On top of this, following the trading of Captain Brayden Schenn and Alternate Captain Justin Faulk, Broberg was given an A on his jersey with the additional absence of Colton Parayko.
This meteoric rise for number 6 within the organization is such a rare thing to see and the fact Blues fans get to cheer for this stellar defenseman through at least 2032 is something we should all be thankful for. Right now, Philip Broberg gets overlooked by much of the national media but if he isn't a player that receives Norris consideration in the coming years many fans and analysts that do know his skill will be shocked. The ceiling for Broberg is so incredibly high and he appears to be well on his way to meeting that sooner rather than later.