Broberg hasn’t but landed on injured reserve. With out an open roster spot and with just one additional defenseman, Scott Perunovich, readily available earlier than his harm, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him land there earlier than Tuesday’s sport towards the Lightning or shortly after that.
Given his return timeline, he’s eligible for long-term injured reserve, however the Blues have already got loads of area of their LTIR pool with Torey Krug and his $6.5M cap hit there.
Many feared a longer-term, doubtlessly season-ending absence for Broberg after he fell awkwardly on his proper leg following a collision with Toronto star Mitch Marner. He wanted assist skating off the ice and clutched his proper knee whereas mendacity on the ice for a number of minutes after the harm. Nevertheless, Bannister’s announcement aligns with a report from Andy Strickland of FanDuel Sports Network Midwest earlier Monday that Broberg’s absence wouldn’t be so long as initially feared.
Signed to a two-year, $9.16M supply sheet and plucked away from the Oilers in August, Broberg has been instrumental in filling the hole vacated by Krug’s season-long absence, plus a prolonged stretch with out Nick Leddy within the lineup. He’d taken over as their greatest left-shot defender within the interim, posting two objectives, seven assists and 9 factors with a +6 score in his first 12 video games with St. Louis.
Broberg appeared in simply 12 regular-season contests with Edmonton all of final season, spending many of the marketing campaign within the AHL. He’s on tempo this 12 months to keep away from a minor league project fully for the primary time since being drafted eighth total in 2019 and subsequently arriving in North America with the Oilers two years later.
The projected size of his absence nonetheless provides him an opportunity to crack his earlier career-high of 46 NHL video games set in 2022-23. After simply two objectives and 13 factors in 81 showings in Edmonton, his offensive sport was lastly thriving in a way more vital position in St. Louis. Drafted as a two-way defender with the potential for respectable NHL level totals, Broberg had 38 factors (5 G, 33 A) in 49 video games for AHL Bakersfield final season.
At even power, Broberg had been skating in a second-pairing position alongside Justin Faulk, whereas 40-year-old Ryan Suter held down top-pairing duties with Colton Parayko with Leddy out.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph slid up alongside Faulk in follow Monday, based on Lou Korac of NHL.com. He’ll exchange a superb portion of Broberg’s minutes, no less than for now. Perunovich is anticipated to reenter the lineup in a third-pairing position alongside Matthew Kessel after serving as a wholesome scratch in two of the Blues’ final three video games.
Broberg’s contract prices $4.58M towards the cap. He’s signed by means of 2025-26 and can change into a restricted free agent with arbitration rights upon expiry.
