The Edmonton Oilers are facing a critical decision as the clock ticks down on the dual offer sheets presented by the St. Louis Blues. The pressure is on for the Oilers to determine whether or not to match the offers for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.
Philip Broberg’s two-year offer stands at an impressive $4,580,917 per season, while Dylan Holloway’s offer comes in at $2,290,457 per year over a two-year term. The Oilers have until Tuesday morning to make their choices and the stakes are high.
If the Oilers do not match Broberg’s deal, they would receive a second-round pick in return. For Holloway, the Oilers would receive a third-round pick if they allowed him to join the Blues. The decisions could have significant implications for the team’s future.
In an effort to create cap space and potentially match the offer sheets, the Oilers made some moves. They traded Cody Ceci and a third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Ty Emberson. Additionally, they acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug offered his insight, expressing that he believes the Oilers will likely match Broberg’s offer, while the Holloway situation remains uncertain.
Clearing Ceci’s contract from the books provided the Oilers with more financial flexibility. By potentially placing Evander Kane on long-term injured reserve and moving a player with a cap hit of $801,000 or more to the AHL, the Oilers could feasibly fit both Broberg and Holloway under the salary cap.
However, the solution may only be temporary as Kane is facing the possibility of surgery, which could keep him out of action for several months. The Oilers would have to address the cap space issue once again if Kane were to recover before the end of the regular season.
Broberg, who played a significant role for the Oilers during the postseason, is expected to have a promising future with the team. Meanwhile, the addition of Emberson raises questions about his role on the roster moving forward.
The Oilers are at a crossroads as they weigh their options and navigate the complexities of the salary cap. The decisions made in the coming days could have lasting implications for the team’s success in the upcoming season.
