Holloway blossoming into impact player since leaving Edmonton Oilers
The decision to let Dylan Holloway join the St. Louis Blues on an offer sheet is looking worse and worse for the Edmonton Oilers.
When the offer sheet came across their desk last summer, a two-year deal that carried a $2.2 million cap hit, many thought that the Oilers were going to match it. The number was a bit high, but the 22-year-old was coming off a fantastic postseason and looked ready to finally become a top-six player for the team.
Yet, during that week when a decision needed to be made, the Oilers opted to trade for Vasily Podkolzin and allow Holloway to walk. Podkolzin has been a pleasant surprise for Edmonton, but he hasn’t blossomed in the same way Holloway has in St. Louis.
In 51 games this season, the former Oilers first-round pick has been among St. Louis’ best players with 16 goals and 38 points, good enough for second on the team in scoring. He only trails Jordan Kyrou in both points and goals, ahead of Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich.
He would currently rank third in points on Edmonton, ahead of Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman.
Dylan Holloway gets the Blues on the board on the power play! 💪 pic.twitter.com/7F8vuVPrCm
— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) January 28, 2025
He has six points in his last six games and even found a way to score on the Oilers in his return to Edmonton back in December. It’s clear his solid playoff run was only a preview of what he can accomplish at the NHL level as he is quickly becoming one of St. Louis’ premier players.
When you look at the kind of season he has put together thus far, you cannot say that the $2.2 million price tag on his current deal is anything less than a steal. While Podkolzin has served as a decent fit, he hasn’t produced anywhere near the level that Holloway has. The difference between their cap hits is only a measly $1.2 million.
One of the things that Edmonton has needed this season is younger, faster, and cheaper forwards who can finish on their chances. They will surely be looking for that kind of player at the upcoming trade deadline, but it all could have been avoided if they simply matched Holloway’s offer sheet this summer.