The Edmonton Oilers have declined to match the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheets for defenceman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway.
The Blues and the Oilers confirmed the move Tuesday morning.
“We exhausted all opportunities and at the end of the day we ended where we are today,” Oilers GM Stan Bowman said at a media availability Tuesday morning.
Last Tuesday, the Blues tendered offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway, who were both restricted free agents.
The Blues offered a two-year contract at US$4.58 million a season to Broberg and a two-year contact at US$2.29 million a season to Holloway.
The Oilers had seven days to match the offers for both players. Bowman said Oilers staff considered all options, including matching both, matching one but not the other and matching neither, and this is where the team landed.
“Our objective was to really focus on where we were at that point in time and look at all the different options that were available to us. We didn’t rule anything out right away,” Bowman said.
“It’s really not reflective of the players at all. … This came down to a business decision relative to our short-term, as well as long-term viability for our roster with the salary cap.”
Bowman said this gives the team flexibility and options moving forward.
“We were evaluating the situation that we were in when those offer sheets came in,” Bowman said. “And given that, as well as the other constraints that we had, we didn’t feel it was the right move to essentially limit our optionality moving forward not only this year but in the future.”
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Bowman went on to say that offer sheets aren’t common, let alone two at once.
“You have to separate business and personal. I’ve known (Blues GM) Doug Armstrong a long time, we’ve had a lot of battles over the years,” Bowman said.
“I don’t look at it that way. I understand that this is a possibility for every manager to use and now it’s our job to react to it and do what’s best for us.”
Holloway, 22, described the last week as an emotional roller-coaster.
“Kind of crazy. You don’t know where you’re going to end up,” he said from his home in Bragg Creek, Alta., Tuesday morning. “We were trying to get a number with Edmonton, and we were just pretty far off in our negotiations.
“It was kind of the centre of attention up here. I was getting a bunch of mixed messages from fans on Instagram, but it is what it is. Edmonton’s got passionate fans. It’s kind of a crazy opportunity. It doesn’t happen often, but it was an opportunity that I couldn’t really pass up.”
Holloway said while he’s going to miss the guys in Edmonton, he’s looking forward to the opportunity to play more in St. Louis.
“I definitely feel like I’m going to get more opportunity here in St. Louis,” he said. “Edmonton’s got some pretty good star power up front so it’s going to be near impossible to move those guys out of their spots.”
Holloway said he’s been talking a lot with Broberg over the last week and he’s happy the pair will be going to St. Louis together.
“It definitely feels better to be going somewhere with somebody that I know and I’m pretty close with.”
Broberg, 23, said the last week has been “wild.” He too is looking forward to a new opportunity south of the border.
“At the end of the day, it’s business,” Broberg said. “I’m very happy about my time in Edmonton and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in St. Louis.”
Because the Oilers didn’t match the offers, the team will receive a second-round pick for Broberg and a third-round pick for Holloway in 2025 as compensation.
A separate transaction will see St. Louis send its 2028 third-round draft pick and unsigned 2023 fifth-round draft selection Paul Fischer to Edmonton for future considerations.
The Oilers made a few moves over the weekend, trading defenceman Cody Ceci and a third-round draft pick in 2025 to the San Jose Sharks for defenceman Ty Emberson.
The Oilers also acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Ottawa’s fourth-round selection in 2025.
Bowman was also asked Tuesday about Leon Draisaitl’s contract negotiations, but he remained pretty tight-lipped on the topic, apart from saying that conversations have begun.
“Out of fairness to Leon and his agent, I’m not characterizing them in any way. You shouldn’t read anything negative into that. I just don’t want to try to put timelines on it,” Bowman said.
“As it plays out and we have an update, we will certainly reach out and let everybody know.”
— with files from The Canadian Press.
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