Oilers Rumors: Young Player Made Available For Trade

It has nearly come to a point in time where the Edmonton Oilers don't seem to have seen enough from Philip Broberg to justify keeping him around in the role he's been playing or even higher in the lineup. This season started with him underperforming until the young blueliner got the callup and stuck with the team the rest of the season. But even while getting into 46 games, he wasn't trusted to just be the sixth defenseman.

Broberg was always used alongside Vincent Desharnais as the seventh defenseman, despite his potential and calmness at his age. I think many expected Broberg to have broken out and earned a full-time spot on the team like Evan Bouchard did when he was 22 years of age, but despite Bouchard being drafted just one year prior, he is nearly two years older.

Broberg just turned 22 and next season is the one where he should be judged and held to a higher standard, but only if he is given the chance. Just over 12 minutes of playing time a night is not a chance and the Oilers might roll 12 forwards and six defense more next season. While Desharnais was dressed this season when the Oilers only had six defensemen in the lineup, that should change in 2023-24, even if Broberg has to play his off side.

At this point in his career, he has already played enough on both sides of the ice and will likely have to play on the right side if he's going to get any playing time. Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, and Brett Kulak line the left side. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period revealed that the Oilers have made Broberg available for trade, so we'll see what comes to pass. It might just be because they are seriously trying to upgrade their team with limited cap space right now to win a Stanley Cup and Broberg is a piece to do it.