NHL Rumors: Oilers, Blues, Red Wings, Bruins, Devils, Hurricanes – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

On today's edition of NHL Rumors, an Oilers insider says the former Edmonton Oilers manager was instructed to make deals for Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg long ago and on Tuesday, both were handed offer sheets. There was also a trade offering on the table from St. Louis Blues Holland didn't pull the trigger. Finally, what do offer sheets do to other teams that also limit potential free agents?

Did Holland Botch Collaborate With Broberg And Holloway In January?

Oilers Now's Bob Stauffer discussed the handouts for defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway on Tuesday's show. He reported that a long time ago, upper management instructed then-GM Ken Holland to make deals with both players.

Stauffer said:

“Sometimes you have to be ahead of the curve. I can confirm 100 percent that the top management, Ken Holland, the general manager at the time, from December and January, was ordered – ordered at the highest levels of the Edmonton Oilers organization – to sign Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. the extension of contracts, especially in the month of January when both players are still young.”

He pointed out that Holland was expected to deal with these contract extensions when players were most at risk – be it injury or high-profile draft picks who had not met expectations and were dropped. The idea was to emphasize that they are still part of the future plans of the organization and to sign their signals when they are most eager to make a deal.

Related: Blues' Brilliant Offer Sheet Gamble With Broberg, Holloway

Stauffer concluded, “And again from the highest levels of the Oilers organization, the Oilers management team led by Ken Holland at the time was told, 'You know, let's get to work, let's make a deal for both guys.' It is not clear if he was saying why Ken Holland is gone, but he did mention that Holland is no longer the general manager of the Oilers.

Blues Give Oilers Other Options

Analysts also debate the theory that Doug Armstrong, who is very close to Holland, would not have done this in Holland, but was happy enough to do it when Holland was gone. Blues thought this through. They know that the double offer paper will be a challenge for the Oilers, especially considering that a revenge strike is almost impossible given the extensions that should happen to Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard.

The Blues intentionally took two years off both players because it would have been easier for the Oilers to meet. Broberg, for example, becomes the most valuable player on his offer sheet salary if the deal goes through. If it was three or four years, Edmonton would have thought that he would easily exceed that contract in three or four years.

Edmonton Journal writer Jim Matheson wrote:

“Let me join the chorus. I know Blues Doug Armstrong wants to win but one of his best friends and golf buddy Ken Holland. I don't believe he would have handcuffed Holland like this with the two sheets of Broberg and Holloway if Holland had been the Oiler GM.”

Stauffer also reported that the Blues may be willing to trade Pavel Buchnevich for Broberg and Holloway in the Armstrong deal last season.

The Devils, Bruins, and Red Wings will be looking at their RFAs

Stauffer noted that he was surprised Seth Jarvis did not draw the attention of the sheet in Carolina. Considering the season he had with the Hurricanes last year, another team could make life very difficult for new GM Eric Tulsky.

Andrew Fantucchio of Boston Hockey Now suggests that the offer sheets against the Oilers won't necessarily prompt other teams to pursue restricted Bruins free-agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Swayman is expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Bruins, likely worth around $8.6 million, in line with their available cap space.

Based on Swayman's projected salary, any team making an offer to Swayman would have to be able to give the Bruins two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick.

Some may wonder if Devils RFA forward Dawson Mercer is in danger. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now notes that a two-year deal could be worth around $4 million per year.

Then again, in Detroit, these offer sheets could accelerate the Red Wings' efforts to sign defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Lucas Raymond.