Report: Oilers' Broberg to remain in Sweden for 2020-21 season

The Edmonton Oilers have told defenseman Philip Broberg they want him to stay in Sweden next season rather than make the leap to North America, according to The Edmonton Sun's Jim Matheson.

The Oilers selected Broberg with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft. He played this season with Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish Hockey League.

"Obviously when you take a player eighth in the draft and he’s a defenseman you want some offense, but Philip was an 18-year-old playing in a men’s league this season,” Oilers general manager Ken Holland said. "We feel he’s in a good place at Skelleftea, Philip was happy this year and we’d like to see him on more specialty teams next season."

Broberg recorded just one goal and seven assists in 45 contests while averaging approximately 14 minutes of ice time per game in his first season with the Swedish club.

Holland believes Broberg's lack of production so far has been due to his role. Turning 19 in June, Broberg mainly served as one of his team's bottom-pairing defensemen. Holland also pointed to a similar situation at the world junior championship but is hoping to see more from him at next year's tournament that will take place in Alberta.

Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom took a similar path after being drafted 19th overall in 2011. Klefbom spent two seasons in the same Swedish league before coming over to join the Oilers' organization as a 20-year-old.

Holland added he's not in a huge rush to get Broberg into his team's lineup, and is willing to wait for him to develop adequately.

"We’re hoping Broberg can be a (NHL) player at 22 years of age. We hope he’s an impact player," Holland said. "To me that means top-four defenseman, No. 1 goalie, or one of the top seven or eight forwards. That’s what impact means to me."