The St. Louis Blues have had a disappointing season thus far, sitting at 17-21-8. That places them seventh within the Central Division, six points behind a playoff spot. Still, certainly one of the more productive defensemen for the Blues has received an extension. Philip Broberg and the Blues have agreed to a six-year, $48 million extension. This can be a deal that may profit each parties.
Broberg was the number eight overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. Because of the delayed start of the 2020-2021 NHL Season, Broberg elected to remain in Sweden for yet another season, playing within the SHL with Skellefteå AIK to proceed developing. He would join the organization in 20212-2022, initially twiddling with the AHL Bakerfield Condors. He played 23 games on the NHL level in 2021-2022, with one playoff game.
The Swede would spend time over the subsequent two seasons with each the AHL and NHL, playing in 19 more playoff games for the Oilers, but never finding consistent playing time. He could be a restricted free agent after the 2023-2024 campaign. The Blues gave Broberg a proposal sheet, and the Oilers declined to match, resulting in Broberg heading to St. Louis. He had a profession 12 months in 2024-25. He found the back of the web eight times while adding 21 assists in 68 games. Further, lots of his advanced statistical rates were the perfect of his profession, per 60 minutes, including Corsi Aspects against and expected goal against.
Philip Broberg Contract Grade
Broberg got a solid contract here, especially considering where he got here from. He was a highly talented first-round pick, expected to make a significant impact on the NHL roster for the Oilers. Essentially the most games he played in a season were 46 games in 2022-2023, and he played in nine playoff games. Still, he was often a healthy scratch and didn’t produce much. The following season saw less time on the NHL level, but he did rating a goal within the Stanley Cup Finals. His entry-level contract had an AAV of $1.71 million. When that expired, he was a restricted free agent, and the Blues offered $4.58 million in AAV. The Oilers felt that was an excessive amount of for that player and declined to match.
The blueliner was going to be a restricted free agent again this offseason, with arbitration rights. Now, he has a six-year deal. On the financial side, it is a major pay raise for Broberg. He went from almost $4.6 million to $8 million per season. Further, he has security. This deal runs through the 2031-2032 season, giving him long-term stability that he has not had in his profession. Meanwhile, he could have a no-trade clause starting in 2027-2028 and running for 3 seasons. Then it converts to a modified no-trade clause for the last two years of the deal.
Finally, this puts him in a situation to get yet another major payday when the contract is completed. He’ll turn 31 in the summertime of 2032, which still gives him some prime of his profession left to supply a brand new team or the Blues again. Overall, that is an amazing deal for a player who was once discarded by one other franchise.
Philip Broberg Contract Grade: A
St. Louis Blues Contract Grade
The timing of this deal by the Blues was impeccable. While the franchise has struggled this 12 months, they showed last 12 months that they’ll turn it around quickly. A part of the turnaround last season was the play of Philip Broberg. He had his best season as knowledgeable, lighting the lamp eight times while adding 21 helpers. He was also a significant a part of the penalty kill and had his best plus/minus rating of his profession.
The Blues could have re-signed him after that, but waited, because it might have been a one-off last season. Broberg is constant on the identical track this 12 months, currently with two goals and 13 assists, while also having a plus-six plus/minus rating and seeing probably the most ice time of his profession. If he continued on the trajectory and hit restricted free agency, this deal could have climbed north of $9 million in AAV. By signing him now, they’ve realized he’s on the precise track, but additionally they didn’t must overpay.
Meanwhile, the franchise is happy to have him, which is at all times good. Blue’s GM Doug Armstrong spoke excitedly about retaining the young defender.
“It’s exciting to have him for this 12 months plus six more that mainly takes him all through the meat of his prime years. He’s been certainly one of the few vibrant lights in a season that hasn’t gone anywhere near the best way we expected. He’s a player on the back end I feel we will construct around,” Armstrong said to the media after signing the brand new deal, in accordance with Lou Korac of The Hockey News.
The Blues see him as a cornerstone to the franchise and the blue line. Broberg will likely be just 25 years old when the brand new contract takes effect. Because of this the Blues get six years of the prime of the defenseman, at a solid cost. They did have to offer him some trade protection, with three years of a no-trade clause and two of a modified no-trade clause.
Regardless, if Broberg is seen as a franchise cornerstone, they ought to be glad to do this. Meanwhile, the primary 12 months of the contract doesn’t have trade protection, so if it becomes clear quickly that he’s going to regress, the Blues can try to move him in a contract which will have some value. The timing of this deal, combined with the proven fact that the team now has three core blue line players locked up through 2028-2029, makes this a solid deal.
St. Louis Blues Contract Grade: A-