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Broberg, Suter Back From Olympics, Turn Attentions To Finishing Strong For Blues
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- Broberg, Suter Back From Olympics, Turn Attentions To Finishing Strong For Blues
MARYLANDHEIGHTS, Mo. -- Steppingback onto the practice rink ice on Tuesday brought back some form ofnormalcy for Philip Broberg and Pius Suter.
Twoof the five St. Louis Blues Olympians were back in the swing forpreparations of the final stretch run to the 2025-26 season, whichmeans 25 games left for the Blues (20-28-9), who are 14 points out ofa wild card spot in the Western Conference.
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Brobergrepresented Sweden for the first time at the Olympics, Suter was inhis second Olympics representing Switzerland. Each offeredprospective of what they accomplished and what they're lookingahead to.
Swedenand Switzerland each bowed out in the quarterfinals, Sweden fallingto gold medal-winning USA 2-1 in overtime, and Switzerland falling toFinland, 3-2 in OT.
"Itwas good, played really well," Sutersaid."Disappointing ending (led2-0 late in the third period),but overall until then, it was good. Obviously that one's going tosting for a while. We had a chance, blew it there. But just keepplaying, doing the right things again and maybe next time we'll dobetter."
Swedentied it late against the Americans on a Mika Zibanejad goal with asixth attacker goal before Quinn Hughes won it to end Sweden'spursuit.
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"Itwas fun. It was a great experience, a lot of good times," saidBroberg, who predominantly played with Pittsburgh Penguins' ErikKarlsson on the blue line."Obviously we didn't have the tournament that we wanted, but agood experience I'd like to bring here.
"Igrew up watching [Karlsson].He's an incredible player, loves to play with the puck and he'sincredible doing that as well. It was a lot of fun. I learned a lotfrom him as well. I think playing with that player helps my game aswell."
Suterscored twice for the Swiss, including one against Canada in the prelims, and Broberg continued to gain confidence – and minutes – as thetournament waded on.
"Igrew," saidBroberg, who roomed with New Jersey Devils' Jesper Bratt."Obviously in the beginning, you try to get into rhythm. The moreyou play, the more you get into a rhythm sure."
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Suter,who experienced Italy with his parents, brother, wife and friends,added, "Ithink as a whole team, we did the right things. Whenthose games were close in the other ones, we showed what we alwaysfelt like we can do. Obviously a disappointing ending.
"Acouple dinners, lunches. Thewhole village was awesome, nice experience and being around otherathletes a little bit."
Eachgot to experience life in the Olympic village, although there wasn'ttoo much time to take in any other of the sporting events.
Pius Suter (middle) scored twice and had an assist for Switzerland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
"Ithink a few guys went to short track," Sutersaid."You can get tickets as an athlete, but obviously with that manyhockey guys, there was a high demand on that. Just enjoyed some downtime with family. I didn't get to see any other sports. Obviouslythere's TV's inlounge areas, andyou can watch all the Swiss athletes compete in our lounge or in themain area of everybody where where they were watching. We got to seemost of them on TV."
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"Livingin the village, meet all the athletes, being around that team,'saidBroberg, whose son and fiance were with him."I think I grew up watching a lot of the players and to play withthem was a lot of fun. I think you can learn a lot from them."
Nowit's time to shift back to life in the NHL, where they will bejoined in relatively short fashion by Dalibor Dvorsky (Slovakia) andCanada's silver medalists Jordan Binnington and Colton Parayko.
Thefocus now turns to beginning the process of turning this ship around,whether the seeds get planted immediately or for into the immediatefuture.
Itstarts with Thursday against the Seattle Kraken .
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"Ahundred percent you want to take that confidence, swagger I guess, tocome with you," Sutersaid."Just kind of keep it going and have a good feeling coming intothese games and keep going with that for sure. That would be ideal."
Brobergadded, "I'dlike to continue building my game and to become a better player.Hopefully taking a bit from what I learned there and bring it here."
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