How Edmonton Oilers Can Fight to Keep Broberg and Holloway After Blues’ Bold Offer
The Edmonton Oilers are on the clock. With a stunning offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues threatening to snatch away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, the Oilers have just days to respond. The stakes are high, and the decisions they make in the next few days could shape their future. Let’s dive into the strategies they might employ to keep their rising stars in Edmonton.
The Edmonton Oilers were riding high after what many were calling a dream offseason. With several key free-agent signings bolstering their roster, the Oilers looked primed for a strong campaign. However, the euphoria in Edmonton has been abruptly tempered by a bold move from the St. Louis Blues. In a surprising and calculated play, the Blues extended an offer sheet to two of the Oilers' prized restricted free agents, defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway. This unexpected twist has suddenly cast a shadow over Edmonton's offseason, and the clock is now ticking for the Oilers to respond.
The offer sheet is a strategic tool in the NHL, allowing teams to lure restricted free agents from other franchises by offering them contracts that their current teams may struggle to match. The Oilers now face a crucial decision: match the Blues' offer to retain Broberg and Holloway or risk losing two promising young talents.
Offer sheet terms by #stlblues:
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) August 13, 2024
Philip Broberg: 2 years x $4,580,917
Dylan Holloway: 2 years x $2,290,457
Compensation due is a third-round pick for Holloway and a second-round pick for Broberg.
One dollar more on AAV for each player would have bumped up compensation.
Broberg and Holloway represent the future of the Edmonton Oilers. Broberg, a former first-round pick, has shown significant promise on the blue line. His combination of size, speed, and hockey IQ makes him a potential cornerstone for the Oilers’ defense in the coming years. At just 22 years old, Broberg is still developing, but his ceiling is high, and the Oilers have invested heavily in his growth.
Holloway, meanwhile, has quickly become a fan favorite with his blend of skill, speed, and physicality. The 22-year-old winger has the potential to be a key contributor to the Oilers' top six, providing the kind of secondary scoring that Edmonton has often lacked behind their superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Holloway’s upside is undeniable and losing him would be a significant blow to the team’s forward depth.
Matching the Blues' offer sheet is not just about retaining two young players; it’s about sending a message. The Oilers have worked hard to build a competitive roster around McDavid and Draisaitl, and losing Broberg and Holloway would signal a setback in that effort. However, matching the offer will likely require some financial maneuvering, as the Oilers are already tight against the salary cap.
Trading away their defensemen
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a precarious situation, thanks to a strategic offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues targeting two of their restricted free agents, Broberg and Holloway. In order to match the Blues’ offer and retain these promising young talents, the Oilers must navigate the challenging waters of the NHL’s salary cap. Even if they place forward Evander Kane on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), they remain perilously close to the cap ceiling, forcing the team to explore other options to create the necessary financial flexibility.
For the Oilers, being cap compliant is not just a formality; it’s a critical requirement that will determine whether they can match the Blues' offer and keep Broberg and Holloway in Edmonton. The LTIR option with Evander Kane provides some temporary relief, but it’s not a perfect solution. LTIR can give the Oilers some breathing room, but it also limits their ability to accrue cap space over the course of the season. With their cap situation already tight, the Oilers need to make significant moves to ensure they have the flexibility to respond to the offer sheet.
One of the most obvious moves the Oilers can make is to trade defenseman Cody Ceci. Ceci, who carries a $3.25 million cap hit, has been a steady presence on the Oilers' blue line, but his role could be considered expendable given the team’s current predicament. Moving Ceci would free up substantial cap space, giving the Oilers the financial leeway to match the Blues' offer.
Ceci has value on the trade market as a reliable, right-shot defenseman with experience in both defensive and shutdown roles. Teams looking for a veteran presence on the back end might find Ceci’s skill set appealing, making him a viable trade candidate. While trading Ceci would create a gap in the Oilers' defense, the potential to retain Broberg—who is expected to step into a more prominent role—could justify the move.
Another player the Oilers might consider moving is defenseman Brett Kulak. Kulak, with a cap hit of $2.75 million, has been a versatile and dependable defenseman for Edmonton. His ability to play both sides of the blue line and contribute in various situations makes him a valuable asset. However, in a cap crunch, the Oilers might have to part with a player like Kulak to create the necessary space.
Trading Kulak would also open up opportunities for younger defensemen, such as Broberg, to take on more responsibility. Additionally, Kulak’s affordable contract and solid play make him an attractive option for teams looking to bolster their defensive depth. Moving Kulak, combined with other cost-cutting measures, could provide the Oilers with the flexibility they need to retain Broberg and Holloway.
Other Smaller Moves
As the Edmonton Oilers navigate the challenges of managing their salary cap in the wake of an offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues, they must explore every possible avenue to retain their restricted free agents, Broberg and Holloway. While trading established players like Ceci and Kulak is one option, another, perhaps less conventional, strategy involves exposing players like Corey Perry and Josh Brown to waivers before the start of the season.
The Oilers are facing a significant cap crunch as they try to match the Blues' offer while remaining compliant with the NHL's salary cap. With limited financial flexibility, the team must get creative to find ways to shed salary without compromising the core of their roster. One approach that could provide some relief is placing veteran players on waivers before the season begins.
Exposing players like Perry and Josh Brown to waivers could allow the Oilers to clear their cap hits if another team claims them. While this strategy carries some risk—particularly the possibility of losing experienced players—it could be a necessary move to ensure the team can retain its younger talent.
Perry, a seasoned veteran with a wealth of playoff experience, was signed by the Oilers to provide depth and leadership. While his presence in the locker room and on the ice can be invaluable, Perry’s $1 million cap hit could be a luxury the Oilers can’t afford if they are to keep Broberg and Holloway.
Brown, another player who could be exposed to waivers, carries a cap hit of $775,000. Brown was brought in to add grit and toughness to the Oilers' defensive lineup. While he serves a specific role, his cap hit, though modest, might be one the Oilers need to remove to create space for matching the Blues' offer.
Trading a mammoth contract
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the Edmonton Oilers’ cap woes could be drastically alleviated if they could convince Darnell Nurse to waive his no-movement clause (NMC). Moving Nurse, even if it requires retaining some of his salary, could be the game-changing move the Oilers need to solve their cap issues not just for this season, but for years to come.
Nurse is a cornerstone of the Oilers' defense, and his contract reflects that. Signed to an eight-year, $74 million deal that carries a hefty $9.25 million annual cap hit, Nurse is among the highest-paid defensemen in the NHL. The contract, which includes a full NMC, was designed to keep Nurse in Edmonton for the long haul, securing his services as a top-pairing defenseman during his prime years. However, the financial commitment is now putting a significant strain on the Oilers’ ability to maneuver under the salary cap.
Nurse’s cap hit is particularly burdensome in the context of the Oilers’ current situation. With the team facing an offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues for restricted free agents Broberg and Holloway, Edmonton needs to find creative ways to create cap space. Moving Nurse, despite his value to the team, could be the solution that unlocks the Oilers' ability to retain their young stars and maintain cap flexibility.
Convincing Nurse to waive his NMC is no small task. The clause was negotiated to give Nurse control over his future, allowing him to stay in Edmonton unless he agrees to a move. Asking a player to waive an NMC is always delicate, especially when the player is as integral to the team as Nurse. The Oilers would need to present a compelling case to Nurse, possibly involving discussions about the team’s long-term plans and how his departure could help the franchise’s overall success.
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Furthermore, finding a trade partner willing to take on Nurse’s substantial contract, even with salary retention, could be difficult. The market for high-priced defensemen is limited, and many teams are also facing cap constraints. However, there could be suitors looking for a top-pairing defenseman like Nurse, particularly if the Oilers are willing to retain a portion of his salary to make the deal more palatable.
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