Philip Broberg has brought a level of youth and excitement to the Blues defensive core that was sorely needed before his arrival. His first season in St. Louis was a success, but a tale of two halves.
Broberg started out scorching hot with his defensive partner, Justin Faulk. Both put up impressive point totals in the first month of the season, but after an injury that sidelined him for a significant amount of time, Broberg came back and stopped putting up gaudy numbers.
He still had a solid season, all things considered, and at his age, what he did remains very impressive, but that consistency throughout the year was lacking. Now injury-free, could Broberg be setting up for a monster campaign in 2025-26?
Defense: the best of the best
Defensively, Broberg proved himself as one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL at just 23 years old. He registered the 19th-best plus/minus among all defenseman, a rudimentary stat but exemplary of how effective his play was.
Broberg was responsible with his stick and terrific at puck retrievals. He was able to be so effective defensively by putting his body in the right position to make plays and by playing physical whenever the puck squirted loose for anyone to grab.
Broberg knows how to turn it on when he needs to, a trait that usually comes only after lots of experience. He is already a solid player and could be considered a finished product entering his age-24 season, which is an astounding feat.
However, Broberg isn't a finished product. He hasn't yet entered his prime, meaning there is progression coming for the young skater. He could very likely still be ascending the ranks of NHL defenseman as one of the best young skaters in the league, and is proving to be a very valuable asset.
Offense: Broberg theory
Offensively, Broberg showed flashes of greatness but wasn't able to string it all together for a consistent run of play. He ended the season with 29 points in 68 games, probably less than he was hoping for.
That being said, Broberg showed what we wanted to see in flashes. The strength of his game comes in the form of turning defense into offense in the transition game. Since he is so strong on puck retrievals, this allows him to make outlet passes that lead to breakaway chances going the other way. However, often times he did not get credited with points on these plays.
Broberg's theory was developed by my co-host and a fellow writer at Bleedin' Blue, John Poston. We host a bi-weekly podcast covering the Blues, which you can check out here. The idea behind Broberg's theory is that the production for #6 will come since he has flashed and looked so great offensively, he just got unlucky with one too many passes or being the last person before the crediting begins to touch the puck.
Furthermore, under a Jim Montgomery system of hockey that sees defensemen often thrive, Broberg should be able to contribute a lot more offensively, too. His play in transition is already great, and if Broberg's theory is correct, then the points will come on that side of the puck, and if he can play more actively in the offensive zone like Jim Montgomery asks of his defenseman, that is another realistic route to Broberg having a monster season offensively.
Philip Broberg is one of the most exciting young players on the roster and has flashed true greatness during his one season wearing the Note. He has all the talent in the world and an opportunity to prove himself as the best defender on the roster, making him a massive X-Factor for the upcoming season.