The Edmonton Oilers announced today that Dylan Holloway will be out a minimum of three months following a wrist surgery.
#Oilers forward Dylan Holloway has undergone successful wrist surgery with an expected recovery time of at least three months.
During the recovery process of his previous wrist injury, it was determined by specialists that he required further surgery. https://t.co/fBgDabhuPn
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 15, 2021
Dylan Holloway Injured
Holloway, the Oilers’ 2020 first-round draft pick, underwent surgery on Tuesday afternoon for his wrist. This comes after initial surgery to try and fix the same issue earlier in the spring. Holloway suffered the injury to his thumb/wrist late in the college hockey season, while playing for the University of Wisconsin.
His injury prevented any chance of him stepping in to audition for the Oilers late in the 2020-2021 season, similar to his Wisconsin teammate Cole Caufield‘s superb stint with the Canadiens.
The expected three-month recovery will ensure that Holloway misses the start of both the NHL and AHL season, delaying his pro hockey debut until possibly the new year.
Holloway’s Stellar Season
It was a divisive pick when Holloway was selected 14th overall in the 2020 NHL entry draft. Holloway hadn’t yet shown a lot of offence outside of the AJHL, and many wondered if the Oilers were reaching with their selection, favouring size over skill.
The 19-year-old Bragg Creek, Alberta native quickly silenced those critics with a stellar 2020-2021 season in Wisconsin. He scored 35 points in 23 games, including 11 goals, and finished fifth in the NCAA in scoring.
His outstanding season earned him a spot on Team Canada’s world junior team. He also finished as a top 10 nominee for the Hobey Baker Award.
What This Means for the Future
This significant jump in performance had many spectators targeting Holloway as a potential dark horse to make the Oilers. His main competition for a bottom-six spot included the likes of Tyler Benson, Devin Shore, Ryan McLeod and Brendan Perlini – not necessarily a staggering hill to climb.
Regardless, his chances of making the team before the injury were slim. General Manager Ken Holland prefers to over-ripen his prospects.
Once healed, Holloway is expected to join the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL and immediately slot into their top-six. Depending on his play, his health, and the state of the Oilers, Holloway should emerge as a potential call-up late in the season.
In the meantime, Holloway’s delayed arrival may allow Raphael Lavoie, another highly touted Oilers’ prospect, to make a greater impact in the AHL and have first dibs on a call-up to the main roster.
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