Oilers expected to move defenseman, could be perfect trade partner for the Leafs

There's no question that the Edmonton Oilers haven't had the type of start to their 2023-24 regular season that anyone expected. Playing to a 9-12-1 record and currently holding down 6th place in the Pacific Division through the first quarter of the season, the Oilers have been better of late, posting a 7-3-0 record over their last 10 games. Now, it appears as though they're willing to move a young defenseman if it means helping the team to improve.

Per ESPN's Kevin Weekes, the Oilers are contemplating moving on from former 1st round pick, Philip Broberg. The 22-year-old defenseman was the 8th overall pick in the 2019 draft and with a bit of a crowded blueline and the need for a change, the pending RFA could find his way out of Edmonton this season.


Obviously, with the Leafs currently missing 3 key members of their D corps, it would make sense for them to at least check in on just about everyone available, but there are a number of reasons why Broberg might be an ideal candidate for Brad Treliving. The Leafs' D prospect pool is relatively shallow, for starters. Beyond Topi Niemela and Mikko Kokkonen, you'd be hard-pressed to identify another D prospect with actual NHL potential right now.


Broberg being a left shot is not exactly ideal in the short term, but over the long term, he does make some sense. Mark Giordano is the oldest skater in the NHL and I doubt he's with the team beyond the expiration of his current deal in the summer, unless it's in an off-ice capacity. A 22-year-old Broberg, provided his next deal is a modest one, could provide the Leafs with a young NHL option to plug that hole and grow into a much larger role over time - if his development trends upward that is.

At 6'3, 200 lbs, Broberg isn't a guy who it will be all that easy to push around once he really fills out. He's not the most physical defenseman around, but at 22, he hasn't even scratched the surface of what he could become as an NHL defenseman yet. The Swedish blueliner has played just 79 NHL games, contributing 11 points over that span.

Provided the Leafs can add a physical, right-shot defenseman as well, I see no harm in the team taking a chance on a young two-way defender, drafted 8th overall, who hasn't entered his prime yet and can become the logical successor to Giordano beyond this season. As always, though, it will all come down to the cost of acquisition.