ITS EARLY but is Broberg the Blues best dman since Pronger/Mac

[smegma]

Broberg has easily been my favorite Dman to watch since Macinnis

+∞

[Army's Mom]

This kid.... again even in a loss last night he for me is again the Blues best player on the ice.

23 yrs old tied for the team lead with 9pts leads the team with +6, and doing it with limited to no PP 4th in ATOI

For NHL dmen 23 or under:

Clarke 11pts
Broberg 9 pts
Sanderson, Power 8pts

Schneider +8, Hartely, Broberg +6

Do we need to start talking a little more about exactly what Army may have landed here? This has to be viewed in the context also that lets be honest the Blues this week, no Thomas, no Joseph, no Leddy just arent that good. Also i have to believe another coach would have had Broberg as the QB on the #1 PP which is painfully obvious to anyone watching the Blues. But again this also a coach that runs Brayden Schenn out on a #1 PP, but i am digressing.
Time will tell but man at 23 and so far, early, Broberg is the #! LHD fans were asking for. What does Broberg look like at 26 or 27 years old, Hedman-ish? Maybe he puts on a few more pounds, hes not timid as it is, 10 hits in 11 games he has no problem finishing his checks. Hes just getting his feet wet, going to be great watching him develop.

I haven't seen enough to compare him to Hedman or Pronger, or even Parayko. And he was the guy I most wanted Army to pursue dating back two years, when talk first surfaced that he was unhappy and stalled in development.

He's playing well and winning his matchups. But he's not matched up against other teams' best players, either.

I say let him continue developing. No need to put more pressure on him by changing his usage and putting him on the top pair or on the PP yet. If he's still producing at this level and winning his matchups at this level after a half a season, then by all means move him up. Right now, he's had a good month.

Great, even. Comparatively speaking. But it's still only a month.

[ChooseBlues]

Breaking Down Broberg: A Unique Blend of Elite Defensemen

After watching Philip Broberg play for the Blues this seasons, I can't help but see shades of several elite NHL defensemen in his game. His skill set reminds me of a fascinating mix of young Colton Parayko, Alex Pietrangelo, Erik Karlsson, and Drew Doughty.
Let me break this down:

The Parayko Connection
Like a young Colton Parayko, Broberg's combination of size and skating ability is what jumps out first. Both players have that rare blend of a 6'4"+ frame with the fluid mobility of a much smaller player. The way Broberg covers ice with those long, powerful strides is remarkably similar to how Parayko but Broberg is the superior skater already. Both also share that ability to maintain gap control against speedy forwards despite their size.

Pietrangelo's Poise
The Pietrangelo comparison comes through in Broberg's decision-making and positioning. While Pietrangelo isn't flashy, Broberg shows flashes and excellent patience with the puck. Watch how he surveys the ice before making plays – that calm, cerebral approach mirrors Pietrangelo's style. Both defensemen excel at making the smart, simple play rather than forcing high-risk passes.

Karlsson's Transition Game
While not quite as dynamic as prime Karlsson (who is?), Broberg shows flashes of that same ability to transition from defense to offense in the blink of an eye. His first pass is crisp and accurate, and like Karlsson, he has that innate sense of when to join the rush. You can see it in how he reads developing plays and picks his spots to activate offensively.

Doughty's Competitive Edge
The Doughty comparison really shines through in two aspects of Broberg's game. First, there's that same competitive fire - the way both players seem to elevate their performance in crucial moments. But what really reminds me of Doughty is Broberg's ability to get pucks through traffic from the point. Like prime Doughty, he has that knack for finding shooting lanes and getting his shots through to the net, even when teams are collapsing to block shots. Watch how he'll subtly change his angle or use a quick head fake to open up a lane, just like Doughty has done throughout his career. Both defensemen understand that sometimes a quick, low shot through traffic is more effective than trying to blast it through a wall of defenders.

Areas for Growth
Of course, Broberg isn't yet at the level of these established stars – that's not what I'm suggesting.

He's still developing his offensive game and working on consistency. But the raw tools that made these other defensemen successful are there: the size, skating, hockey IQ, and competitive drive.

What makes this comparison particularly exciting is that Broberg is still scratching the surface of his potential. If he can continue developing these various elements of his game, we might be looking at a truly special defenseman who can impact the game in multiple ways.

[Hooking]

Can't deny it. So far at least he looks really good and if it continues the Blues have another cornerstone to rebuild this team with.

[John Cocktoastin]

Ryan Whitney had this to say recently...

"His skating is so good, and he looks phenomenal. That's a kick in the d**k to Edmonton."

[We Went Blues]

There is zero reason Broberg shouldn't be on 1st defensive pairing and #1 PP everyday, he is the future of this team.

[theograce]

There is zero reason Broberg shouldn't be on 1st defensive pairing and #1 PP everyday, he is the future of this team.

Why wasn’t he out there when we had 6 skaters last night?

It’s dumb

[Bacchk29]

There is zero reason Broberg shouldn't be on 1st defensive pairing and #1 PP everyday, he is the future of this team.

He makes Parayko expendable

[chuckt]

I think what's most depressing about this season is that we seem to have added a possible first pairing defenseman and a 20-goal scorer, yet we may be playing worse as a team than last year. The Thomas injury really hurts, but it's still frustrating.

[Tabasco Flowers]

There is zero reason Broberg shouldn't be on 1st defensive pairing and #1 PP everyday, he is the future of this team.

He makes Parayko expendable

Not yet. We have no replacement for Colt yet.

[dhsux]

Based upon what I have seen I don't have a ceiling for him.

Extremely impressive young defense man.

I don't care what pip squeak has to say.

[Tabasco Flowers]

Like the OP said in his title, "It's EARLY". 'Nuff said.

[Harry S Deals]

There is zero reason Broberg shouldn't be on 1st defensive pairing and #1 PP everyday, he is the future of this team.

He makes Parayko expendable

Not yet. We have no replacement for Colt yet.

Parayko plays RHD there is only Faulk and Kessel at this moment. It would be nice in a couple years if Jiricek steps into that role, any update on his game tonight?

[MikoTython]

Going in, the middle and (a young elite ?) LHD were the holes on this team, mainly expected to fall in over the years from the kids. The second one looks to have got plugged now. In a rebuild context, this is a big step forward. We're hurting right now, but this is a complete positive in the process going forward, long-term.

As far as Edmonton, a top-loaded team in a cap league is always going to have these challenges. The only question I have, which seems to be the case, is that they stifled his development, rather than dealing him for mucho drafts - the hard choice they didn't make. I'm pretty sure this was a no-brainer for Broberg, he had a real beef. Now the Blues are in position to let him bloom, sign him on for the duration after the season. It was pretty much a no-brainer for DA too, but ... he got there first.

[Bomac]

Yeas....... Again he is looking good. And yeas again. It's early.


. But, Why is this thread needed twice a week. Hell this might be the second since his last game. Oh yeah, and again. Praise Army... Small ego needs big praise.

[bluetunehead]

There is zero reason Broberg shouldn't be on 1st defensive pairing and #1 PP everyday, he is the future of this team.

He makes Parayko expendable

Nothing of the sort. Did Petro make Bouw or Parayko expendable?

But his early results are terrific.