While the St. Louis Blues have only won one Stanley Cup in general manager Doug Armstrong’s reign, it doesn’t mean anyone in out of franchise circles in any capacity should think any less of him. While it’s true that Armstrong has the Blues as nearly a shell of what they were when they won the Cup, he’s also added to his legacy in a positive way.
No matter the sport, there’s one common denominator that links them together, major and minor sports alike. That’s the copycat mentality every team in every league possesses, and it will take on a whole new meaning in the 2025 offseason, thanks to Armstrong.
Why? Well, just look at Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, both of whom were major reasons the Blues crushed Craig Berube’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Having raided the Edmonton Oilers to sign the youngsters, this is something you will start seeing from more executives, at least in the NHL, starting in the 2025 offseason should the duo continue putting up outstanding performances.
Again, let’s ask why that is. Another well, and that well stems from the fact Holloway and Broberg have played as close to lights out as they could have gotten. Some may not find it surprising, but after they were nothing more than utilities for the Oilers, it’s showing that, on some of these would-be contenders, there is a good bit of underrated and NHL-ready talent.
What to expect from this trend the St. Louis Blues may have kickstarted
I’m not saying you’ll see a ton of player movement here, but should Holloway and Broberg keep playing at such a high level, at least a solid level, you will see organizations try to use this tactic more often to take players from contending teams. Likely, anyway, those who are rebuilding or not expected to contend, like the San Jose Sharks, could see a pending free agent providing organizational depth who could otherwise find themselves as regular starters in an NHL lineup.
It would make a golden opportunity for these teams, should they have the cap space and compensation available to make such a move. Therefore, my projection is that you will see more of this coming about in the near future, even if it doesn’t result in a ton of prospects going from one franchise to another.
Also, Broberg and Holloway will have to keep this level of play up and minimize the inevitable cold streaks. But at this time, Armstrong’s moves should have caught the league’s attention, and I also wouldn’t be shocked if this trend made its way into other leagues.