In the summer of 2024, General Manager Doug Armstrong was looking for a creative way to vault the St. Louis Blues back into contention. His solution? Signing two young, unproven players to double offer sheets, prying them away from the cap-strapped Edmonton Oilers.
Forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg vastly outperformed expectations in the 2024-25 season, potentially establishing themselves as key pieces of the Blues' core moving forward. Is one season enough to want these two players around long-term? Will Armstrong and GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen sign them to big extensions?
Check out this recent episode of Note News, where we discussed potential extensions for Broberg and Holloway, as well as decisions the Blues will need to make on other players from the 2024-25 team!
What the Blues got from Holloway and Broberg in 2024-25
In a season with few expectations, Holloway and Broberg were two of the Blues' best players. Along with Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Colton Parayko, these two young players round out the Blues' 5 best skaters from 2024-25.
Dylan Holloway played 77 games and was a key component of St. Louis' elite second line. His speed, physicality, and two-way ability fit perfectly into the style of hockey that the Blues played this year, leading to a season with 26 goals and 37 assists. If Holloway had been healthy for Round 1 of the playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets, the Blues likely would have won their first playoff series in 3 years.
Philip Broberg played 68 games, mostly on the second defensive pair, and cooled off offensively after a scorching start to the year. Still, he finished the season with eight goals and 21 assists, showing flashes of play-making and goal-scoring potential. Where Broberg stood out this year was on defense, using his elite skating to close gaps and shut down plays before they could develop, and in transition, where he helped the Blues break into the offensive zone.
Should the Blues sign Holloway and Broberg to huge extensions?
In short, the answer is "yes." Holloway and Broberg are players that winning teams build around, and, as young players who are already contributing at the NHL level, they have accelerated the Blues' timeline back into contention.
According to the Net Rating Model, developed by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, both of these players are worth a lot more than their current salaries. Dylan Holloway, whose salary is $2 million, played like a $9.1 million player this year, according to market value. Philip Broberg, whose salary is $4.6 million, played like a $9 million player.
This offseason, Doug Armstrong and Alexander Steen should look to sign these two players to twin long-term contracts, similar to those signed by Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Remember, these players are 23 years old and should only get better. If the Blues can get extensions done now, they may be able to lock these players up at a discount before they become worth even more.