Oilers recall 2019 first-round pick

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg.

The Oilers recalled blue-liner Philip Broberg Tuesday, according to a team release. Broberg, the organization’s top defense prospect, had been on assignment to AHL Bakersfield since early December.

The young Swede could now suit up in Edmonton’s final two games of the regular season with nothing left to play for. The Canucks’ 4-1 win over the Flames last night clinched the Pacific Division for Vancouver, locking the Oilers into second place.

Broberg only got into 10 games early this year and was a frequent healthy scratch before being sent to the Condors, going without a point and posting poor relative possession numbers while averaging 10:36 per game.

Things went considerably better for the 22-year-old in the minors, where he flashed what made him the eighth overall selection in 2019. He’s been Bakersfield’s top defenseman at both ends of the rink, leading their blueliners in scoring with five goals and 30 assists in 48 games. His +9 rating is third on the squad, but would be tied for the team lead had he played in all 69 games.

This year still isn’t what Broberg envisioned after spending most of last season in the NHL, scoring a goal and seven assists in 46 games while posting an exemplary 57.5 CF% and 58.4 xGF% at even strength. He wasn’t given a shot at anything resembling top-four minutes however, averaging 12:36 per game.

There’s no path to such minutes anytime soon, either.

The left-shot defender is stuck behind Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse, both of whom are signed through at least 2026, on Edmonton’s depth chart. 30-year-old Brett Kulak, who anchors their third pairing alongside the right-shot Vincent Desharnais, is also signed through 2026, muddying Broberg’s path to NHL minutes.

Thus, Broberg has been the subject of plenty of trade rumors as part of a package to land more NHL-ready talent. His minor-league showing this season indicates he’s ready for another extended NHL look – whether that will come in Edmonton or with another organization remains to be seen. He’s wrapping up the final season of his entry-level contract and will be an RFA this summer, although he won’t be eligible for salary arbitration until the 2025 offseason.

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