Former NHL coach shows confidence in Oilers despite losing Philip Broberg to St. Louis Blues  

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Aug 23, 2024 15:18 GMT

The Edmonton Oilers lost defenseman Philip Broberg to a two-year, $9.16 million contract with the St. Louis Blues. The Oilers chose not to match the offer and, as compensation, will receive a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau shared his thoughts on how the Oilers might handle Broberg’s departure. During a conversation with Jim Tatti, Frank Corrado, and Jason Strudwick on the TSN broadcast, Boudreau said that the Oilers have a plan.

"They know who was in the minors, who may be graduating, who they want to step up." Boudreau said [14:33]. "They’re not doing this haphazardly; everyone has a plan. Edmonton obviously has a plan for what they’re missing."

He believes the team is acting with a clear strategy. With several high-paid players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the roster, the Oilers need to find affordable options.

"You have to consider the salary cap and where you’re going to spend your money." Boudreau added. "They’ve got some big paychecks coming up, so they need young, cheaper guys to play those positions."

Philip Broberg was drafted by Edmonton with the No. 8 pick in 2019. He played 81 regular-season games with the Oilers and had 13 points. He also appeared in 20 playoff games, scoring three points.

Forward Dylan Holloway also signed with the Blues, and his contract is worth $4.58 million. The Oilers will get a third-round pick in exchange.

The Oilers still have a strong defensive lineup with Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, and Brett Kulak.

Kulak is expected to be the third-pair left defenseman.

Oilers reasons for letting go Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway

General manager Stan Bowman said the choice was about keeping future options open, not the players' skills.

"We were evaluating the situation that we were in when those offer sheets came in and given that, as well as the other constraints that we have, we didn't feel like it was the right move to essentially limit our optionality moving forward not only this year but in the future," Bowman said. via NHL.com.

"So, it's less about the players and the abilities and their talents. It's really about trying to set ourselves up in the best position that we can be, so that we have some options."

Boudreau is confident that Edmonton will manage well with young players ready to step up. Despite losing Philip Broberg, the Oilers remain in a good position for the future.