Stan Bowman hiring linked to why offers sheets made to Broberg and Holloway

One of the unwritten rules in hockey is that general managers generally don't make offer sheets to players on other NHL teams. It's a major part of the reason why there was so much shock about the St. Louis Blues' double offer sheet to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, bringing the total to 12 overall in league history.

However, it turns out that this turn of events is actually connected to Stan Bowman being the Oilers general manager. At least in a manner of speaking, and according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Giving due credit to Jim Parsons of The Hockey News, Friedman claims there was no way the Blues would have made offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway, if Ken Holland was still the Oilers' general manager. The respected hockey journalist made his comments while speaking with Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now.

From best of friends to worst of enemies

Friedman explains that this is due to the close friendship between Holland and Blues general manager, Doug Armstrong. However, there has to be even more to it, given the aforementioned reference to the unwritten rule among NHL general managers, which in some respects is akin to a brotherhood of sorts.

This is where we come to Bowman specifically. Consider that nearly four weeks after the Oilers hired him, there is still a lot of frustration, anger and resentment among fans for bringing in such a controversial figure.

As such, and please note this is just a theory which has no evidence or inside sources to back it up, is it possible that the Blues do not respect Bowman because of what went on during his time in Chicago? Hence, why Armstrong had no issue with dismissing the unwritten rule among NHL general managers and going after Broberg and Holloway?

Again, just to stress, this is a working theory based on a line of thinking and speculation, as opposed to being rooted in any concrete evidence. However, we would like to think you can at least connect the dots in how we have come up with said theory. (And if not, please feel free to criticise and/or laugh accordingly.)

Armstrong has had his eyes on Broberg and Holloway for some time

In terms of speculation rooted in something more substantial, as per Parsons, consider comments Stauffer made about a potential trade which was discussed in March last year. More specifically, it involved the Oilers wanting forward Pavel Buchnevich in a deal involving Broberg and Holloway.

Assuming this is true -- and Stauffer of course has excellent sources -- it does mean the Blues have liked the Oilers' young duo for a while. Maybe it was just a case of waiting for the right time after the potential trade fell apart, with last Tuesday representing the opportunity via the offers sheets for the two restricted free agents.

Overall though, regardless of what the whole story is, it's a tough position the Oilers find themselves in, and it will be interesting to see what happens come Tuesday's deadline for matching one or both of the Blues' offer sheets. Bowman is already facing increased pressure to prove himself, with the reality that there are plenty of people just looking for any excuse to criticise him.

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