On last night’s Hockey Night In Canada broadcast, Elliotte Friedman gave news about the Edmonton Oilers and their prospect defenseman Philip Broberg.
While while they have been reportedly looking at some of the big targets nearing the Trade Deadline, general manager Ken Holland let other teams know that he will not trade Broberg for a rental player. The 22-year-old blueliner has been playing great hockey since being sent down to the Bakersfield Condors. Though he’s hurt right now, he has 19 points through 29 AHL games playing top minutes. While it does take longer for defensemen to develop properly, it’s been hard for many Oilers fans to stay patient with Broberg, as he is still not an NHL regular five years after being drafted.
Related Post: Could the Oilers Switch Kulak For Broberg?
That all being said, part of me does support Holland’s decision here. Of course, AHL talent needs to translate to the NHL, but there is still a player there. Even if Holland were willing to make that kind of deal, it would depend on which rental. Jake Guentzel will miss a month, and that may or may not give other teams second thoughts about trading for him. I entertained the idea of acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko a couple of days ago in another article, but I wouldn’t trade Broberg for him. Being offered a Guentzel-light forward with term or a right-handed Ekholm type of defenseman is the only way I’d consider trading Broberg at this point. There’s been talk that maybe he will draw back into the Oilers line-up when there is an injury or when/if either Brett Kulak or Cody Ceci are dealt. If the latter does happen, I feel it would be better to have a solid veteran partner for Darnell Nurse rather than pushing Broberg back into a spot at this stage of the season when it’s a cup-or-bust year.
I lean more toward the injury occurrence as a way of seeing him in an Oilers uniform again.
