Philip Broberg: Forehand-Backhand Fake
Apart from the really cool celebration (Broberg is pictured on the ground here) where he looked like Bobby Orr flying through the air, Philip Broberg scored a gorgeous goal last night against the Canucks, propelling St. Louis to a 4-3 OT win. This was a big loss for the Canucks, trying to propel themselves to a playoff spot after their tremendous showing last season, and it looks like it is going to be very close the rest of the way in their push for contention.
With Broberg, his offensive potential has continued to blossom more as he has gotten more ice time in St. Louis. Sometimes, players just need new environments to thrive, and clearly Broberg wasn’t working out in Edmonton. It will likely take more time, at least 2-3 more years, for Broberg to really continue the upward trajectory he is on right now, and continue to develop his offensive hockey sense and playmaking.
With Broberg, part of my concern with him coming into Edmonton was how he didn’t really relate to the system (when to pinch, when not to, when to carry pucks up ice and in O Zone individually) under different coaches. Certain coaches encouraged more D movement and activity on the rush than other coaches in EDM during Broberg’s tenure.
I think the biggest difference I’ve seen from Broberg in STL so far is his willingness to jump and involve himself offensively constantly. It’s a mindset for him. He doesn’t really think whether he should jump into the play or not, he just goes and goes instinctually.
Jim Montgomery forces his D to jump and incorporates activation from both sides of the D offensively, allowing these defenders to really showcase their offensive creativity and consistency. Broberg knows that, and immediately we’ll see him jump on the rush and attack space right away. The passive mindset that he had in EDM has become something he’s begun to move on from, and he’s transitioned into the style of defenseman everyone thought he could be coming into the 2019 NHL Draft. Broberg is at 22 points in 57 games right now, so there’s still more polishing to be done in his transition offense game and becoming a true #2 or #3 two-way defender in the league, but there’s certainly progress he’s shown throughout this season.
Broberg’s skating gives him an advantage in these open ice situations, where Broberg has always been known as a powerful skater with a powerful stride since his draft year. He’s always had that, and it’s really just rounding out his foundation outside of his skating so he can continue to get better over time as well. I think it is really important that Broberg can utilize that and really skate into pucks with speed.
One of the things that Broberg has also continued to get better at is carrying pucks upon puck retrieval without losing speed. A lot of the time in EDM, this would happen, and he would pick up pucks in stride and would lose speed (not a translatable skill for both forwards and D). Broberg, in STL and perhaps because he has less pressure in a new environment now, has really showcased his ability to skate into pucks with speed and not losing speed as easily. It’s really exciting potential to watch if you are a Blues fan out of the young defenseman.
Broberg skates into this puck with speed, pump fakes, and maneuvers forehand-backhand in tight with Kevin Lankinen down low. Excellent display of assertiveness, speed, and skill in tight to maneuver on Lankinen without much fear here.