The New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers have both faced challenges this season. The Islanders have struggled with losing streaks and blown leads, while the Oilers had a rough start before hiring Kris Knoblauch as head coach. Since then, the Oilers have improved significantly and are now third in the Pacific Division. However, some players on both teams are still struggling.
Phillip Broberg, a left-handed defenseman drafted by the Oilers in 2018, has had a tough time finding his place in the NHL. He has been in and out of the lineup and has not played an NHL game since November. However, when he has played, he has been a strong defenseman. In the 2022-23 season, he had a 59.6 expected goal percentage (xG%) when playing alongside Evan Bouchard. This was the second-highest on the team and ninth-highest in the NHL for pairings with over 300 minutes. Broberg’s offense has struggled, but he has been a solid defender.
Broberg could find a new opportunity with the Islanders, who have had injuries on defense this season. Noah Dobson, the team’s elite right-handed defenseman, has struggled this season. Broberg could provide a steady defensive presence alongside Dobson. The Islanders’ defense would improve significantly if they rolled out pairings with Broberg and Dobson.
Oliver Wahlstrom, another former top prospect, has also struggled this season. He has been in and out of the lineup and has been benched by three different coaches. Wahlstrom has elite shooting ability, but his defensive struggles and inconsistency have held him back. However, he could find success on a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl.
Wahlstrom could add firepower to the Oilers’ middle six and provide a low-risk, high-reward option. If he does not work out, his contract is negligible, and the Oilers could move on from him easily. The trade deadline is still a few weeks away, and the Oilers are likely to make other, bigger moves.
The Islanders and Oilers have made significant trades in recent years, and a trade involving Broberg and Wahlstrom could be another impactful move.
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