Nobody could've predicted just how good Dylan Holloway would be in his first season with the St. Louis Blues. Even GM Doug Armstrong, who stunned the hockey world with a dual offer sheet to two of the Edmonton Oilers young restricted free agents, probably got more than he ever could've hoped for. Philip Broberg had a good enough season to envision him as a long-time second-pair defenseman for the Blues, and that's a valuable player--but Dylan Holloway might be a top-line forward.
It's a shame Holloway's season was cut short due to injury, missing all seven games of the Blues' first round loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the playoffs, but in 77 regular season games he potted 26 goals, 37 assists, and 63 points--career highs across the board in his third year as a full-time NHL player. Holloway had the highest 5-on-5 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) of all Blues forwards with 51.57, per Natural Stat Trick, and also the highest expected Goals-for percentage (xGF%) with 53.41. Not only did Holloway light up the score sheet, but he was the strongest play driver and chance generator of any Blues forward with more than 100 minutes.
The only cause for concern is Holloway's 14.6 shooting percentage--a little high compared to the previous two seasons, which means perhaps a goal-scoring slump is on the horizon. However, it's possible that, with an increased role as a permanent member of the Blues' top six, Holloway runs with the opportunity and takes another step, cementing himself as not just a good top-six forward, but a true top-of-the-lineup, all-situations franchise player.
We're not going to set our expectations quite that high, but good health, a full season under head coach Jim Montgomery, and better supporting players put a point-per-game season well within reach for Holloway. He'll be 24 years old at the start of the 2025-26 season, and it still feels like the sky's the limit after last year's breakout, though we'll still be pleased if he merely replicates those totals.