The St. Louis Blues suffered another in a very long list of injuries this season, with Dylan Holloway heading back to the Injured Reserve. With only a couple of games left before the Olympic Games, he will more than likely be shut down until the Blues return to action on February 26.
Holloway did appear in the 5-0 loss to Edmonton back on January 18, his first game since getting injured initially on December 12 against Chicago. 20 games have passed in between then, and as this injury seems to continue to linger, it might be a good idea to shut him down completely.
If the Blues were to do that, that would be two straight seasons without Holloway in the lineup to end the year. With a contract in the balance here, this situation just got a whole lot more interesting.
Holloway shut down for rest of 2025-26?
It is clear that the Blues are still in an undecided phase. General Manager Doug Armstrong has not made any indication of movement toward either making the Blues a re-tooling club or going for it all this season. Holloway would be a big part of grabbing more wins than losses, but his long-term health is more of a concern if this season is a wash-out.
The injuries continue to pile up for the 24-year-old forward, and his skill is such a valuable asset to have. There is a case to be made that Holloway could be a cornerstone piece and a central part of the next "core" group. Letting him rest up until the start of 2026-27 might enhance his abilities and protect him as well.
How can you extend a player that misses this much time?
This is where it gets tricky. Holloway is up for a new deal at the end of this season, and before all of these injuries occurred this season, he was on a fast track toward a pretty substantial payday. Now, that lump sum might have taken a bit of a hit, as there is now uncertainity toward his durability.
Armstrong is smart enough not to pay a player $5 to $7 million AAV if they continuously are out of the lineup. This ankle injury might be more serious than anticipated, which might make the young star walk. Either way, Holloway should not see the ice for the rest of the season, and a bridge deal might need to be put in place to properly gauge his value.