Philip Broberg’s Saturday in Las Vegas was supposed to be a celebration. Hours before the St. Louis Blues took the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights, the 24-year-old defenseman put pen to paper on a six-year, $48 million contract extension—a deal that signaled the franchise’s commitment to building its blue line around the Swedish standout. But hockey, as ever, has a way of upending expectations in the blink of an eye.
Just 1 minute and 35 seconds into the contest, Broberg’s night—and perhaps more—came to a sudden halt. On a seemingly routine play near the boards, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone delivered a check that sent Broberg sprawling. The Blues’ blueliner lost his footing, slammed hard onto the ice, and stayed down. The crowd at T-Mobile Arena fell into a hush as trainers rushed to his side. Broberg needed help to reach the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game. The team later announced he’d sustained an upper-body injury and was considered day to day, leaving his immediate future uncertain.
“He was really excited to play,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery shared after the game. “The team was excited for him after announcing his extension. Unfortunately, he got injured there. We had to go down to five (defensemen) three in four nights.” The frustration was palpable—not just from the bench, but on the ice as well.
Tempers flared less than three minutes after the injury. Brayden Schenn, the Blues’ veteran forward, dropped the gloves with Stone in a spirited fight that saw both captains exchange heavy blows. Schenn even managed to tear Stone’s jersey, forcing the Vegas captain to make a quick trip to the locker room for a replacement. Both players were handed major fighting penalties, a testament to the emotional charge that Broberg’s injury injected into the game. “It was a response, pure and simple. You have to stand up for your teammate,” said Schenn after the game, his face still bearing the marks of the scrap.
The Blues had jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the time of Broberg’s exit, thanks in no small part to him. He notched the primary assist on Robert Thomas’ goal just 53 seconds into the game, setting the tone with a slick feed that showcased the very skills the organization is banking on for years to come. But the early momentum faded as the night wore on. Down a defenseman and reeling from the emotional jolt, St. Louis eventually fell 4-2 to the Golden Knights, a loss that stung both on the scoreboard and in the trainer’s room.
The timing of Broberg’s injury couldn’t be more bittersweet. Earlier that day, the franchise had announced his lucrative extension, a move that general manager Doug Armstrong framed as a cornerstone for the team’s future. “It’s exciting to have him here for this year, plus six more,” Armstrong told reporters. “That takes him right through the meat of his prime years. ... He’s a player, I think, on the back end that we can build around.”
Broberg’s journey to this pivotal moment has been anything but linear. Drafted eighth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2019, he spent parts of three seasons honing his craft with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors—where he tallied 11 goals and 54 assists in 87 games—before breaking into the NHL. After helping the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in the 2023-24 season, he joined the Blues as a restricted free agent in August 2024, arriving alongside Dylan Holloway in a high-profile offer sheet scenario.
Since donning the Blues sweater, Broberg has quickly become a fixture on the St. Louis blue line. Through 45 games this season, he’s logged two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, averaging a hefty 23:18 of ice time per game. His ability to eat minutes and contribute at both ends of the ice has made him indispensable—especially on a team that’s struggled to find consistency. Last season, he registered eight goals and 21 assists in 68 regular-season contests, further cementing his reputation as a rising two-way force.
In total, Broberg has now played 194 regular-season NHL games, amassing 12 goals and 44 assists for 56 points, along with 32 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating. He’s also appeared in 27 postseason games, including 10 during Edmonton’s recent run to the Final. His international pedigree is equally impressive: Broberg was recently named to Sweden’s men’s hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, adding to a resume that already includes a bronze medal at the 2020 World Junior Championships and gold at the 2019 Under-18 World Championship.
The Blues, meanwhile, find themselves at a crossroads. Heading into Saturday’s game, their record stood at 17-20-8, good for 42 points through 45 games—seventh in the Central Division and five points shy of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. With the season at its midpoint and the playoff chase heating up, Broberg’s health looms large over the team’s immediate prospects. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity this year,” Armstrong admitted. “But the group believes in what we’re building. Philip is a big part of that.”
For Broberg, the extension represents both a reward for his growth and a challenge to take his game to the next level. The six-year, $48 million deal (an $8 million annual cap hit through the 2033-34 season) places him among the league’s highest-paid young defensemen—a testament to the Blues’ faith in his ability to anchor their defense for years to come. “He’s entering his prime,” Armstrong said. “We’re confident he’ll be a leader for us on and off the ice.”
But for now, all eyes are on the medical updates. The Blues have labeled Broberg as day to day with an upper-body injury, offering a glimmer of hope that his absence may be brief. The team, already thin on the back end, will need to rally in his absence as they continue their push for a playoff berth. As for Broberg, the hope is that this setback is merely a bump in the road on what promises to be a long and impactful career in St. Louis.
Saturday night’s game may have ended in disappointment, but the Blues’ commitment to Broberg—and his commitment to the team—remains unshaken. As the Olympic Games approach and the NHL season grinds on, both club and player have plenty to look forward to, provided health is on their side. For now, the Blues and their fans will be holding their breath, waiting for their cornerstone defenseman to return to the ice.
