In the first minute after signing a brand-new six-year, $48 million contract with the St. Louis Blues, defenseman Philip Broberg went down to the ice after a vicious hit from Vegas Golden Knights veteran forward Mark Stone. He would leave the game and not return, and head coach Jim Montgomery exclaimed that he is ok but unsure of the future.
Jim Montgomery on Philip Broberg's injury: "He's doing alright. We'll have to see how he responds tomorrow." #stlblues https://t.co/0ZGGmuVWvW
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 11, 2026
Looking at that deal, there are some different layers to digest from it. Just a season and change ago, whilst still with Edmonton, Broberg was fighting for his place in their shaky and inconsistent defensive unit. Now, he is the highest-paid blueliner on the Blues roster, and pretty high up on the list of all defensemen in the NHL.
Did he grab those couple of extra dollers due to his Olympic nod for Team Sweden? Or did he earn it with his performance since becoming a Blue?
The initial length was a debacle between both sides
When the deal was reached, there was some behind-the-scenes drama involving the length of the term. The Athletic's Blues Writer, Jeremy Rutherford, revealed that Broberg's camp wanted a shorter four-year deal, but the Blues wanted him even longer, pushing it to eight years. The parties met in the middle on six years, which puts Broberg at 30 years old once this contract is reached.
I spoke with Broberg’s agent, Darren Ferris. Their camp was looking at a 4-year deal and the Blues wanted at 8, so they settled on 6. Broberg had no intention to take this to arbitration and delay for a year or two to make more as a UFA. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) January 10, 2026
Broberg is now the cornerstone piece of this franchise's future on the blueline. With aging players like Justin Faulk, Colton Parayko, and Cam Fowler, they locked up their next top D-man, and they picked a great one.
Olympic nod for Team Sweden brought in more cash?
About a week and change ago, the news of Broberg's nomination to represent the Blues at the Olympic Games next month in Italy broke. Team Sweden gave him the call, and it was well deserved in a field of great defenders who are of Swedish nationality.
The important thing to think about with that kind of nomination is a question of whether it added a few extra dollars to Broberg's new deal. It was obvious the General Manager Doug Armstrong was not going to let No. 6 walk in free agency, and a deal was going to be struck regardless. But, given how well he has been playing this season for the Blues, on a lackluster and underwhelming defensive unit, the Olympic nomination might have put the pressure on the Blues' front office to make a deal now, rather than later.
Is he worth it?
For what it is worth, and despite not seeing how well Broberg will handle his new set of expectations with a much larger cap hit, he is well worth that kind of money. Getting a defenseman with that kind of game-changing ability, with speed and a solid hockey IQ for $8 million AAV, with the rising salary cap incoming, makes it a lot easier to build around him.
Eventually, the defensive unit will have to be dismantled, and younger players will flood in to replace the old guard. This deal gives the new General Manager in waiting, Alexander Steen, some wiggle room.