A third-round pick was all it took to "steal" Dylan Holloway away from the cap-compromised Edmonton Oilers. Fast forward to today and the young winger has five goals and seven points in his last five outings. These are top-tier stats for a player looking to stake his claim on a long-term top-6 role with the Blues.
So far, this move in particular by General Manager Doug Armstrong is their best off-season addition for St. Louis and perhaps in the entire league. The 23-year-old now has 17 points in just 28 games on the season. In 89 games with the Oilers, Holloway would only amass 18 total points. It's this kind of production jump that has St. Louis fans not only excited for the addition but also how this now looks like a long-term solution to adding a highly talented scoring forward to the top 6 forward group.
Around the league and throughout the history of dealings in the NHL it typically takes more than a third-round pick (compensation) or a a little over a two million cap hit in order to obtain such a player. At just 23 years old, Holloway will still be a restricted free agent for the Blues at the end of his two-year extension as well. While a raise in salary certainly looks like it's on the horizon one would have to imagine this is a price the Blues organization will happily pay with the way he has been playing of late.
Is this the best offseason move for the Blues? Absolutely. Better question though is this the best off-season move for any team? Looks like it, although these glasses have a slight blue tint to them.
The Blues (.500 through 28 games) next play Tuesday night in Vancouver.
