On Monday of last week, the St. Louis Blues gave offer sheets to two Edmonton Oiler restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. And it came right down to the wire, as we are here on the following Tuesday morning. The deals were different to each player. Broberg’s carried an average annual value of $4,580,917. The news has just been confirmed that the Oilers decided not to match, and they will receive a second-round draft choice as compensation. On the other hand, for Holloway, his offer sheet, which also went unmatched, is a two-year contract, carrying an AAV of $2,290,457. The Oilers will now receive a third-rounder as compensation.
Both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway have been informed they are St. Louis Blues. Oilers do not match.
One thing I believe is key here: Edmonton wants flexibility to add in-season.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 20, 2024
The St. Louis Blues Officially Sign RFA Forward Dylan Holloway to Contract
Dylan Holloway was the Oilers first selection from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. As such, subjected to the lofty expectations that goes with the honour. Perhaps luckily for him, he was only 14th overall. Holloway is a big, physical forward with speed and he has some hands too. He could indeed still develop into exactly the player the Oilers need to provide depth scoring wherever he slots in. Moreover, through his career development, he really has done all the Oilers expect of him.
After getting drafted, he put up a solid season with the University of Wisconsin Badgers with 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 23 games played. Furthermore, his totals in the AHL have been more than respectable. In parts of three seasons with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, he has 63 games, 25 goals and 23 assists for 48 points. When he has been called up, the Calgary native has done as much as could be expected of him. In 89 regular season games, he does only have nine goals for 18 points. However, that is in only 10:21 of ice time. What Blue fans can look forward to has been his play in the post-season, particularly in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final run. In 25 games, still in only 11:30 of average ice time, he did pick up five goals and added 86 body checks for good measure.
What Does the Signing Mean for Holloway and the Blues
General manager Doug Armstrong came to play hardball. And when your Stan Bowman, GM of a team that was a win away from the Stanley Cup, you had to be ready for it. But now Armstrong has his man. It seems the Blues like what they saw in Dylan Holloway in offering him the contract. At this point, it is just about being confident he can be relied upon in high-leverage situations. Luckily, for the Blues, the team has been going through a retool, so they still have development time for Holloway. The hope would be he can fit in somewhere in the top-six eventually. With a young, speedy forward group, with the likes of Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas, it might be a great situation.
Main photo: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
