Counting down the Blues: What do the former Oilers bring to the Blues lineup?

Editors note: This is the fifth of 10 installments analyzing questions facing the Blues entering the 2024-25 season.

6.

What do the former Oilers bring to the Blues lineup? Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway had quite the introduction to the Blues.

When they signed offer sheets with St.

Louis, the maneuvers caught the attention of those around the hockey world.

It was unusual that one offer sheet is ever signed.

But two by the same team? Targeting the same cap-strapped team? Well, for a week in August, the NHL news cycle revolved around the futures of Broberg and Holloway.

Now that theyre no longer Oilers and signed to two-year contracts with the Blues Broberg at a $4.58 million cap hit and Holloway at a $2.29 million cap hit the chatter around the former first-round picks no longer centers around which team theyll play for this fall.

Instead, its about the impact theyll make on the ice in St.

Louis.

The Blues envision substantial roles for both Broberg and Holloway.

Thats evident in the salaries paid to them, the assets given up for them (principally their 2025 second and third-round picks), and the comments made by Blues general manager Doug Armstrong after St.

Louis acquired them.

Armstrong said the club envisioned a top-four role for Broberg on defense and a top-nine one for Holloway up front.

Theres a slim chance both Broberg and Holloway live up to their compensation this season.

Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk are the only defensemen paid more than Broberg, and Holloway is the clubs highest-paid forward under 25 years old.

Still, there should be some expectations for the pair of ex-Oilers.

Broberg, 23, could prove himself as a potential partner for Parayko.

Broberg with his 6-foot-3 length, his above-average skating ability and his stick in the defensive zone could be a facsimile of Jay Bouwmeester, who found success alongside Parayko years ago.

Hes just an elite skater, Armstrong said of Broberg.

Hes got very good hockey sense.

He can recover lost ice, a good stick down low.

Hes got a good frame.

He just has to become a man.

I think hes working towards that, obviously, in the gym.

When you hear NHL players (say) You cant really tell about NHL D until after 200 games, so theres not going to be any long-term answers by Christmas this year on whether this was a good decision or a poor decision.

Because we have a lot of runway with these guys, we have a lot of time.

Were excited to watch them grow.

Broberg flashed some of that ability in the Stanley Cup Final, when he played all seven games against the Panthers.

He had one goal, one assist and a plus-seven rating.

Itll just be about translating that to the NHL across a full season for the first time in his career.

Holloway, 22, is a high-energy player who has played primarily on the wing in the NHL, but Armstrong noted there is some potential versality there.

He should help the Blues create more of a forecheck than they did a season ago.

Hes played center, Armstrong said.

Coming out of college, he did have a wrist surgery that put him on the wing a little bit.

Great skater, size.

Going to be real great competition in our forward group this year.

I see him touching a lot of areas of that group.

Broberg and Holloway are two of the 10 former first-round picks the Blues have in their organization since the 2019 draft..

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