Oilers Assign Philip Broberg to Their Taxi Squad

19-year-old defenceman Philip Broberg has been reassigned to the Edmonton Oilers taxi squad following the completion of his second pro season in Sweden. The 8th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, played at three World Junior championships but will now try to be a contributor to the Oilers lineup moving forward.

Related: Oilers Switch Up Top Six, McLeod and Yamamoto Promoted

? #Oilers roster moves ?

Defenceman Philip Broberg has been assigned to the taxi squad.

The 2019 8th-overall pick just completed his season with Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League, appearing in 44 games & recording three goals & 10 assists. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/u3EweYRgsh

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 2, 2021

It was learned a couple of days ago that Broberg would fly to Edmonton from Sweden shortly after his Skelleftea season came to a close. He will quarantine for a week and stay with Oilers. He is not being assigned to the AHL. The reason seems to be less about him contributing or being a player the Oilers want to use, but more about quarantines and documents.

Trying to get him into a game in Bakersfield would require a 14-day quarantine in Canada, then waiting to get an appointment to get him a U.S. work visa. From there, another 72-hour quarantine in Bakersfield and none of that makes sense from a logistical standpoint. The same process was looked at for Filip Berglund once his SHL season ended earlier this month.

Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic writes:

I’m told Broberg has shown flashes of excellence since returning from the World Junior Championship but that his play has largely been inconsistent. Broberg had three goals and 13 points in 44 games during the SHL regular season. He’s been Skelleftea’s seventh defenceman during the playoffs and has received only a few shifts per game.

What About Evan Bouchard?

Some fans saw this news on Sunday and immediately assumed this was more bad news for Evan Bouchard. That’s probably not the case. For one, Broberg is a left-shot defenseman and Bouchard a right-shot. Second, Bouchard was likely only going to get in the lineup once the Oilers had secured a playoff spot and/or if an injury took place that would require he step in. Third, the Oilers are more likely to have Broberg skate with the big club versus do anything else. The team is deep on the left side with prospects who are ahead of Broberg on the totem pole.

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