Blues' Philip Broberg signs 6-year, $48M extension and then is injured vs. Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Philip Broberg to a six-year, $48 million contract extension Saturday, hours before be sustained an upper-body injury just 1:35 into a 4-2 loss to Vegas.

He was hurt after getting checked near the boards by Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. Broberg lost his footing and hit the ice hard. He did not return to play, and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he’s day to day.

“He was really excited to play,” Montgomery said. “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.”

Blues teammate Brayden Schenn fought Stone less than three minutes later, landing his share of blows and tearing Stone’s jersey. Stone went into the locker room to get a new jersey, and both players were hit with major fighting penalties.

The Blues led 1-0 at the time Broberg was injured. He had the primary assist on Robert Thomas’ goal 53 seconds into the game.

Broberg, who was recently named to Sweden’s team for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, is in his second season with the Blues after signing as a restricted free agent in August 2024.

He has two goals and 12 assists in 45 games this season, after having eight goals and 21 assists in 68 regular-season games last season.

“It’s exciting to have him here for this year, plus six more,” general manager Doug Armstrong said. “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, 24, has played in 194 career regular-season games, totaling 56 points (12 goals, 44 assists), 32 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating.

He has also appeared in 27 career postseason games, including 10 in 2023-24 when he helped the Edmonton Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. He was drafted eighth overall by the Oilers in 2019.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl