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Phillip Broberg became a key cog on defense last season for the Blues, breaking out after three seasons with the Oilers.

Another Broberg took the ice last week for the Blues: Marcus, Phillip’s younger brother. The 21-year-old was invited to Blues development camp this summer in an attempt to earn a free-agent contract. Marcus’ rights are not owned by any NHL team.

While Marcus has been preceded by his older brother in professional hockey, he doesn’t see Phillip’s success as a burden as he hopes to pave his own path.

“For me, it’s just a tool. It’s a person I can rely on, a person I can talk to and help me through the process,� Marcus said. “At the end, you just want to meet your own potential. You want to be great in your own way.�

Marcus has bounced around different leagues — and countries — in recent years. In 2021-22, he played 48 junior games in his home country of Sweden, including two games for the Swedish Hockey League’s Malmo Redhawks. He traveled across the pond for the 2022-23 season, playing for the Omaha Lancers (USHL), Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) and Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL).

He joined the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks in 2023-24 and spent last season playing for the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

“Every year has been a new learning curve,� Marcus said. “Learning something new and adapting to a new environment has been the key component for me. Not focusing too far ahead. Just focusing on the day-to-day and where you’re at right now is something that’s really helped me push forward and take me to the position I’m in right now.�

With Salmon Arm, he tied for third on the team in assists (21) and helped the Silverbacks reach the BCHL semifinals. At UNO, he led all freshmen in assists (eight) while finishing second in points (nine) and games played (27).

During the Blues’ prospect development camp, Marcus seemed flexible over four days in the new environment.

“Everyone’s very adaptable to something new,� Marcus said. “That’s something I’ve figured out. You have to be ready to change and look at things a different way and not be stuck in your own world.�

During the week, scrimmages were three on three, which is naturally conducive to forwards and centers who have more space to operate with the puck.

“Our defensemen have a harder time standing out than forwards,� Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said.

Even so, Marcus showed off high-level passing skills during the scrimmages. That included a smooth breakaway feed to Theo Lindstein, who buried a one-timer moving to his left.

Wherever Marcus ends up next, he’ll look to make a name for himself just like many other Swedish-born hockey players, including two in particular he cited as role models.

One of them was his brother. The other? Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, whose laundry list of accolades includes 12 All-Star nods, seven Norris Trophies and four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and an Olympic gold medal in 2006 with Sweden.

Expecting Marcus to end up in the same stratosphere as Lidstrom is unreasonable. Even expecting him to replicate Phillip’s career up to this point might be a poor ambition to have, too.

But Marcus is on his own mission. The last name of Broberg may be the same, but the legacy is being built differently one day at a time.

“If you look too far ahead, it can be a bit tough,� Marcus said. “Staying in the moment is something I’ve definitely learned.�