Calgary Flames Miss Big Chance to Sign Oilers by Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

As rare as offer sheets are in the NHL, many think the Edmonton Oilers could be in trouble this off-season. They sit about $340,000 above the league's maximum salary cap, and have two young, talented players in Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway who remain restricted free agents (RFAs.)

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Earlier today, St. Louis Blues made a move that shocked the hockey world, signing not one, but both players to the sheets. It's a smart move for the Blues, as both Broberg and Holloway are first-rounders who appear to be on their way to being NHL powerhouses. One team that missed the boat this time, however, was the Calgary Flames.

Oilers Unlikely to Match Both Deals

The general public consensus is that the Oilers will not be able to match both deals. Broberg agreed to a two-year contract worth an estimated $4.6 million annually, while Holloway also signed a two-year deal worth less than $2.3 million.

Given that the Oilers would simply need to shuffle the roster to sign both, it seems highly unlikely that they will be able to sign both for a total of $6.87 million per year. At least, it looks like the Blues will end up with one promising young talent.

The Flames Had Enough Space To Pull This Off

With the Flames in the early stages of a rebuild, they cleared a lot of salary through trades last season. As a result, they have nearly $22 million in cap space, the most of all 32 NHL teams. It's not like they have big deals coming up in the future, either, when Yegor Sharangovich was signed to a five-year extension earlier this offseason.

While the Flames have done a solid job of putting together a good collection of young talent, adding one, if not both, Broberg and Holloway would significantly brighten what already looks to be a bright future. Maybe it wasn't just to anger the team as offer sheets are known to be made, but given the intense rivalry between the two teams, this sounds like a missed opportunity by general manager (GM) Craig Conroy.

Broberg is a defender who many believe has top pairing potential. It took the 23-year-old, the eighth overall pick in 2019, longer than expected to develop, but he has been very impressive in the Oilers' playoff run. At the very least, it looks like he'll soon be a top-four defender.

Holloway also had an impressive playoff run for the Oilers, and it looks like he'll be, at the very least, a top-nine NHL forward for years to come. He doesn't shy away from being physical and has a strong offensive instinct, but his biggest asset is his skating, which is becoming more and more important in an NHL that seems to be playing faster every season.

The Flames Should Consider This Route Moving Forward

While the option of signing Broberg or Holloway to an offer sheet is now out the door, this is the route Conroy, and frankly, many other GMs should consider going more often in the future. It's a pretty good deal in the eyes of the NHL, and the compensation usually ends up being worth the signing.

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As many teams in the NHL struggle to stay in compliance with the cap, RFAs often take longer to find new contracts, and are often forced to sign for less than they feel they deserve. They are usually all willing to sign with another team for what they feel is a fair contract, and often times the most talented players. Going this route is especially wise for teams in a rebuilding situation like the Flames, as it can help speed up the process of becoming a successful organization.