One of the best offer-sheets in recent memory, Dylan Holloway proved to be well worth the investment for the St. Louis Blues. He had a career-year in his initial campaign in the 'Lou, before falling to injury just before the playoffs.
He is still under contract through the end of next season, but with his eyes set on staying with the Blues long-term, it is worth looking at what an extension would look like and when it could happen.
Let's face it, this contract extension is not a case of if, but when and how much.
When can it happen?
Theoretically, the Blues can sign Holloway to a long-term deal at any time. But, it is unlikely it will happen before the start of next season. With only a small sample size, which basically encapsulates the 2024-25 season as his real potential, the Blues likely want to wait and see if it was just a fluke or not.
This smells like a mid-season deal, depending on what position the Blues are in and how he is doing. The possibility of letting Holloway "test the waters" next offseason in free agency should not come to fruition.
What does the contract look like?
Over the next three seasons, the NHL is granting teams a solid bump in Salary Cap space. The Blues have a great oppurtunity for a once-in-a-lifetime signing at the end of 2025-26, and Holloway can also be afforded.
If he can put up similar numbers to last season, and even improve, he could be brought back on a long-term deal, four years at an Average Annual Value of $4 million. That seems like a fair price for a young player that has kicked the door in with his first full season with the Blues.
Holloway proved he has the skills to thrill in his first season and the shining light from his injury at the end of the season was the emergence of fellow youngster Jimmy Snuggerud. But, he was sorely missed in that first-round matchup, proving that he needs to remain a Blue for the long-term.