I doubt it holds any weight with many here, but I feel like Duncan Keith should get a shout out even if to a lesser extent, like Ekholm.
Rookie Bouch played quite well with Keith that season. I don't care what people think about him or the deal that got him here, he was a great influence on a rookie Bouchard, and for all the same reasons you rightfully imply on Ekholm.
Basically I agree with you. It's a shame the team had no one on the right side to break in Broberg. But it is what it is. I'm still fully confident with Kulak anchoring the third pair for at least the next couple of seasons.
Broberg couldn't lock up that 2nd LD spot. Not faulting him, he was and is a young developing player. But he couldn't do it and the team needs to contend so Ekholm was brought in. That made it basically impossible for Broberg to lock down a spot on his natural side without blowing the doors off the league, which he hasn't yet. So if while I admit the loss sucks, if he really wants to play top 4 minutes on his natural side, Edmonton wasn't going to be the place. Not with Nurse here but that's an entirely separate and tired conversation.