The St. Louis Blues have signed defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway to two-year contracts after the Edmonton Oilers declined to match the offer sheets signed by the players on August 13. As compensation, the Blues will send their 2025 second-round draft pick for Broberg and their 2025 third-round draft pick for Holloway to the Oilers. Additionally, in a separate transaction, St. Louis will send its 2028 third-round draft pick and unsigned 2023 fifth-round selection Paul Fischer to Edmonton for future considerations.
The Associated Press reports that the St. Louis Blues looked to salary cap-strapped Edmonton to upgrade their roster. A report last week said the the Blues’ offer to Broberg was two years and $9.16 million, which would amount to a second-round pick as compensation if the Oilers decline to match. Holloway received a two-year, $4.58 million offer, which amounts to a third-round draft pick as compensation.
To satisfy NHL requirements in issuing the offer sheet to Broberg, the Blues also announced a trade with Pittsburgh to reacquire their second-round pick in next year’s draft. St. Louis also added a 2026 fifth-round draft pick while sending the Penguins a 2026 second-round selection and a 2025 third-round pick.
The last team to issue an offer sheet was Carolina in 2021, when the Hurricanes landed center Jesperi Kotkaniemi from Montreal after the Canadiens failed to match the offer.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is seeking to fast-forward his rebuilding plan for a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Meanwhile, the Oilers are currently projected to be more than $354,000 over the cap after they lost the Stanley Cup Final in seven games to Florida.
The 23-year-old Broberg, selected eighth overall in the 2019 draft, had two assists in 12 regular-season games last year, and added two goals and an assist in a career-high 10 playoff games. He has two goals and 11 assists in 81 career regular-season games.
The 22-year-old Holloway, selected 14th overall in the 2020 draft, had six goals and three assists in 38 games last season, and added five goals and two assists in 25 playoff games. Overall, he has nine goals and nine assists in 89 regular-season games.