Growing up, Philip Broberg didn't turn many heads.

While his talent stood out in the Swedish system, by no means was Broberg labeled exceptional like some of his 2019 NHL Draft peers spread across the world.

But fast forward roughly five years, and Broberg's game has matured - a ton. There was slow growth throughout his early teens as he converted from forward to defense, and then rapid improvement over the past three seasons as his skill set developed and his confidence took off.

"As time has gone on, the dots have started to connect for him,” said Randy Edmonds, who's played, scouted, coached, and managed in Sweden for 30 years and now represents Broberg for DHG Sports Agency.

"It wasn't obvious at 13 that this kid was going to be a first-round pick in the NHL," he continued. "We knew - and Philip knew - he was a good player. But you see a lot of those players at that age and you don’t know which direction they'll go. With him, he's continued to rise."

These days, Broberg, who doesn't turn 18 until June 25, moves around the ice effortlessly. And while that skating ability is his calling card, talent evaluators have really warmed to his other tools, including hockey sense and defensive coverage. Bulking up and sharpening his decision-making are high on the to-do list.

It's conceivable now that an NHL team will use a top-10 selection on him later this month in Vancouver. Offensive juggernaut Bowen Byram is considered the top blue-liner in the 2019 class, while Broberg is among a handful of others - including German Moritz Seider and compatriot Victor Soderstrom - making up the second tier. It's anybody's guess which order they'll be selected, with the draft's first round expected to be all over the place.

"He's one of those players where I think a team will step up for him in the draft," NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said of Broberg. "I think that’s going to be a smart move. He's not the loudest, flashiest player, so he doesn’t draw attention. But, when you go to a game, you don't have to look for him. He makes the kinds of plays where you say, 'Smart player. Smart player.'"

"Prototypical size-skating combo," added an NHL scout who requested anonymity. "He's got a shot, good hands. Can probably man the second-unit power play one day. He's a really fun player to watch.”

Broberg shrugs when asked how he's managed to become an elite skater. Instead of bragging about a change in mechanics or productive sessions with a renowned skating coach, he references hard work and a belief in himself and his abilities.

"I don’t think a lot of guys realize how fast he is until it’s too late," said Niagara IceDogs forward Philip Tomasino, another projected first-rounder and Broberg's training partner during the Swede's annual visit to Toronto. "He's got a really long stride, with his body stretching out."

As the clip below demonstrated, Broberg possesses high-end acceleration. He crosses over often to gain speed, blazing past helpless opponents with conviction reserved only for the quickest skaters in the world.

In many instances, it looks like he's been shot out of cannon in the same way Connor McDavid and Rasmus Dahlin often enter or exit a zone:

Broberg's improvement was also aided by Swedish hockey culture, which is known for its focus on individual skill development. At the lower levels, winning is a secondary pursuit. Instead, the general encouragement of creativity and the blanket philosophy of learning from mistakes take precedent. It's no coincidence that Broberg's homeland has produced a boatload of dynamic defensemen, including his hero, Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman.

"One of the beauties of playing hockey in Europe - especially junior hockey - is that there's no money in it," Edmonds said.

"There's no extra playoff round, extra gate for the owner, no corporate boxes to sell. So, as (Broberg's) development has progressed, he's been allowed to make mistakes along the way. When you do that in the Ontario league or the Western league, you're costing your team a playoff round. These European defensemen - Erik Karlsson is a good example - make all sorts of mistakes and turnovers, but it doesn't cost anybody money so they're allowed to keep doing it so they can figure it out.”

However, Broberg's young career hit a fork in the road during the 2017-18 season. Frustrated with his hometown team's unwillingness to promote him to J20 SuperElit, Sweden's top junior hockey loop, he decided to pack his bags - leaving behind his parents and brother in Orebro - for a move to Stockholm, where he'd suit up for AIK and live alone in the nation's capital.

"My coach in Orebro didn't think I was ready to play, not mature enough, not strong enough, not fast enough. So they put me with the J18 team," Broberg said. "But I thought I was good enough to play in the J20, and AIK gave me the chance."

It turned out to be a shrewd decision.

As a 16-year-old in the higher level, Broberg dazzled, registering 13 points in 23 games for AIK while establishing himself as an NHL prospect worthy of close scrutiny. Then in August, he blew the doors off the heavily scouted Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, scoring three goals and adding an assist in five games as Sweden claimed the silver medal. And he's continued to impress on the international stage ever since.

"He took a huge step this year, I must say," said Magnus Havelid, Sweden’s Under-18 team head coach.

Indeed, the Hlinka was just the first of three tournaments for Broberg leading up to the 2019 draft. He also made Sweden's world junior squad, though an illness derailed his performance. April's Under-18 World Championship proved more productive, with the Swedes capturing gold while Broberg was named the best defenseman and earned a spot on the tournament's All-Star team.

"He seems to play well when the pressure is at its highest point," Edmonds said.

Broberg also dressed for 41 games in the Allsvenskan, the country's second-tier pro league, and eight at the J20 level during the 2018-19 season. But the transition from junior to pro included an adjustment period. The 6-foot-3, 199-pounder saw his ice time cut in half and the shift-to-shift physicality ramped up. Perhaps most significant for a guy who loves to create, Broberg was forced to make safe choices with the puck and clamp down defensively without it.

"Of course I want to contribute offense all the time, but I still want to be a guy who you can trust on defense," he said.

Next, Broberg will make the jump this fall to the Swedish Hockey League, the sport's domestic peak. He signed a one-year contract with Skelleftea in May and, barring a push from his future NHL team to jump ship and join the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, who own his North American junior rights, he'll face another challenge. The SHL is considered the third-best league in the world.

"I think that he will do fine, considering how well he played last year in Allsvenskan," Skelleftea general manager Erik Forssell said. "If you take into regard his age, we think that he will develop further and play well in the SHL."

If all goes according to plan, Broberg will spend one year - two max - in the SHL before leaving Sweden to chase his NHL dreams in a to-be-determined locale.

"I think the only thing that he needs is what a lot of 17-going-on-18-year-olds need: A little bit more maturity and experience to his game, where it all comes together. I don’t know if there's any liabilities," Marr said.

"He's a pretty complete package for a team to draft and watch develop over the next year or two."

For a player who was never considered a prodigy growing up, that's certainly quite the leap.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With chatter running rampant about his potential departure from the Maple Leafs, Patrick Marleau has put his Toronto home up for sale, according to the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran.

The mansion contains six bedrooms and seven bathrooms and is up for grabs for $11.8 million, per the online listing.

Marleau is entering the final year of his three-year, $18.75-million deal with the Leafs, but the club is exploring the possibility of trading him to create extra cap space.

The Leafs have reportedly had discussions with the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes on a potential deal.

Marleau's contract features a full no-movement clause, meaning he'd have to sign off on his future destination before the Leafs could trigger a deal.

The 39-year-old hasn't missed a game since the 2008-09 season and put up 16 goals and 21 assists in 2018-19.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Roman Polak to a one-year contract extension worth $1.75 million, the team announced Thursday.

Polak, 33, joined the Stars prior to the 2018-19 season and is signing a one-year contract for the fourth consecutive year.

He was one of five Stars blue-liners on an expiring contract this summer, as Marc Methot, Taylor Fedun, and Ben Lovejoy are unrestricted free agents, while Julius Honka is an RFA.

Polak appeared in 77 games in his debut season with the Stars, recording one goal and eight assists while logging 19:10 per contest. He also led the club with 152 blocked shots.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Timo Meier's new deal.

The player

Timo Meier came into his own during the final year of the winger's entry-level contract. He nearly doubled his previous career high in points and ranked third on the Sharks with 30 goals while establishing himself as a top-six threat.

The 22-year-old was incredibly efficient during his production spike this season, too. Meier suited up for just under 17 minutes per contest, and he still finished the year 14th among all regularly deployed forwards with 1.21 goals per 60 at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Meier, the ninth overall pick in 2015, offers a blend of size, speed, and scoring touch. He asserted himself more during the 2019 playoffs, too, racking up 15 points in 20 games before the Sharks bowed out in the Western Conference Final.

The team

The Sharks might own the NHL's longest to-do list this summer. General manager Doug Wilson has some crucial decisions to make, and he faces a bevy of contract situations that need to be resolved.

Aside from Meier, the Sharks' list of expiring deals includes captain Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Erik Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi, and Gustav Nyquist, all of whom are unrestricted free agents. Kevin Labanc, fresh off a career-high 56-point campaign, is an RFA as well.

It's hard to imagine veterans Pavelski and Thornton suiting up elsewhere, but even if they stay put, their combined cap hit will likely eat up a fair chunk of San Jose's projected $24.7 million available to spend.

Then there's Karlsson, who still put up 45 points in 53 games despite suffering through an injury-riddled debut season in the Bay Area. He has every right to demand a salary that places him among the highest-paid defensemen.

Bringing everybody back doesn't seem feasible, so Wilson needs to play this offseason carefully to ensure the Sharks' competitive window stays open as long as possible.

The comparables

Here's a list of comparable contracts wingers have signed coming out of their ELCs in recent years:

CH% = Cap hit percentage, based on cap ceiling when the contract was signed

* - In contract year
** - Nylander's cap hit in 2018-19 was prorated to $10.2 million because of time missed in negotiations

Meier posted a 0.84 points-per-game average this season, putting him on track to land a similar deal to those above. However, with the salary cap set to reach $83 million next season, he could earn more than some of his peers.

The most interesting case on the list is Hertl, Meier's teammate who was given a four-year contract even when he was producing pedestrian numbers. In the first year of his new deal, though, Hertl exploded for 35 goals and 74 points, turning his cap hit into a bargain for now.

Meier isn't quite on the same level as Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, or Patrik Laine when compared to other RFA wingers up for new deals in this summer's star-studded class. But he should still land a comfortable long-term contract.

The projection

Meier emerged as a strong scorer while carving out a nice role during his contract year, and he should be compensated accordingly. However, it's hard to imagine him breaking the bank on a huge deal with the Sharks facing cap constraints and several other contracts to negotiate.

The only Sharks forwards currently locked in for more than two seasons are Logan Couture, Evander Kane, and Hertl. From Wilson's perspective, it makes sense to add Meier to that list at a rate that matches up with market value, and one that won't handcuff the team down the road.

Verdict: six years, $37.8 million ($6.3M AAV)

Others in this series:

• Zach Werenski
• Charlie McAvoy
• Sebastian Aho
• Mikko Rantanen (June 7)
• Brock Boeser (June 10)
• Patrik Laine & Kyle Connor (June 11)
• Brayden Point (June 12)
• Matthew Tkachuk (June 13)
• Mitch Marner (June 14)

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When it comes to the Stanley Cup Final, the stakes are simply too high for players to bring anything less than their A-game.

However, some have an easier time coming up clutch in big moments than others. Here are three players who are at the height of their powers in the NHL's ultimate series.

Tuukka Rask

No player has dominated the field this spring quite like Rask has. The Bruins netminder is in the thick of the Conn Smythe conversation thanks to an absurd stat line that features 14 wins and a .938 save percentage.

Rask hasn't allowed more than three goals in a single contest since Game 4 of the first round, and his icy-cool demeanor has the Bruins on the cusp of winning their second Stanley Cup of the decade.

Ryan O'Reilly

O'Reilly is tied for first on the Blues in postseason scoring with 18 points, and he's notched four of those during this series.

The 28-year-old two-way pivot had the performance of a lifetime in Game 4, registering two enormous goals - including the game-winner - to help provide the Blues their first ever Cup Final win on home ice.

Torey Krug

The Conn Smythe could very well end up in the hands of Krug - who leads all players this postseason with 14 assists in 21 games - if it doesn't go to Rask. The 28-year-old is also tied for third in scoring on the Bruins with 16 points.

Krug is the catalyst for Boston's lethal power play and put together a signature performance in Game 3 - a one-goal, three-assist effort that put him alone in franchise history as the only player to record four points in a single Cup Final game.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Jack Roslovic requested a trade at least once last season because of a lack of playing time, sources told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

On Thursday, Roslovic fired his agent, Ken Robinson, in favor of Claude Lemieux, Portzline added.

Roslovic was the 25th overall pick of the 2015 draft but has just 14 goals and 24 assists in 109 career NHL games.

The 22-year-old spent the bulk of the 2018-19 season on the fourth line and averaged fewer than 10 minutes per game. He did, however, still see time on the power play.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson is on the mend.

The superstar defenseman underwent surgery on May 31 to address a groin injury he suffered during the 2018-19 campaign with the San Jose Sharks, the club announced Wednesday.

Karlsson has started his rehabilitation and is expected to recover in time to suit up for the beginning of next season.

The 29-year-old was limited to 53 regular-season games this past year and was noticeably laboring toward the end of the Sharks' playoff run.

Karlsson logged fewer than 11 minutes of ice time in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues and did not play in Game 6, the contest in which the Blues eliminated the Sharks.

He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.