Florida Panthers: Five Defensemen to Select with the 13th Pick
Philip Broberg (AIK IF/Allsvenskan)
Many mock drafts see Philip Broberg falling between picks 8-12, listed as the second-best defenseman (behind Bowen Byram) heading into this draft class.
In the event that Broberg slides past the No. 12 pick (owned by the Minnesota Wild), the Panthers need to forget about everything else and select the 6’3″, 201-pound Swede.
Broberg is regarded as a two-way defenseman with a high hockey IQ. His skating is smooth, which allows him to move the puck with confidence and stay in position at all times in the defensive zone.
His stats were by no means the flashiest this year with AIK IF of Allsvenskan (Sweden’s second-highest league), but his game translates further beyond the stat sheet. In 41 games AIK IF in the second division, Broberg put up 2G, 7A, for 9 points.
Florida Panthers
While this may seem like an underwhelming stat line, factor in that Broberg is only 17 years of age, playing against men. With AIK J20 of the SuperElit (Sweden’s highest junior league), Broberg recorded point-per-game figures, tallying 8 points (2G & 6A) in 8 games.
None of his success with the junior team came as surprise to many, considering Broberg’s natural talent at such a tender age. Next season (2019-20), Broberg will take his talents all the way up to Sweden’s first division (SHL) with Skellefteå AIK.
The Panthers need a two-way defenseman who prides himself at getting pucks out successfully to the forwards and someone who’s always in the right position at all times.
Broberg checks off both of these wants, and in the event that he does happen to fall below No. 12, the Panthers would be foolish to pass up on such a well-rounded defenseman.
After all, according to Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects, not only does Philip Broberg possess elite mobility and hockey sense, but he could very well turn out to be the most complete defenseman in this draft class.
With all signs indicated on Broberg’s talent and potential, the 17-year-old fits the description that a team like Florida needs and is a player who could step into the league (if he chose to) as early as next season.
It’s unlikely that he’ll fall past twelfth, but if he does, don’t be surprised if Dale Tallon selects the Örebro native with the 13th pick.