The St. Louis Blues shocked the hockey world once they prolonged supply sheets to restricted free brokers Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg of the Edmonton Oilers. Each former first-round picks confronted challenges incomes common spots in Edmonton’s lineup final season. Whereas Broberg’s departure was extra comprehensible given the huge compensation value greater than $9 million over two seasons, Holloway’s choice to go away such a gifted ahead group raised eyebrows. Now, Holloway faces the problem of proving his choice to go away Edmonton was right, and securing a top-six position with St. Louis would go a great distance in easing any doubts.
Holloway By no means Had a Probability
All through most of Connor McDavid’s profession in Edmonton, the crew’s bottom-six depth had constantly been a weak point. Whereas the highest six and energy play had been all the time one of many league’s finest, the secondary traces lacked the scoring, offensive assist, and consistency wanted for a Stanley Cup run. That lastly shifted final season, as key depth gamers like Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, and Adam Henrique performed an integral position within the crew’s success. Consequently, Holloway by no means discovered the chemistry or belief wanted to change into an everyday in a contending lineup.
In Holloway’s 38 NHL video games final season, he acquired greater than 14 minutes of ice time in simply three video games and underneath 10 minutes in 10 video games, together with a number of cases the place he logged only one or two shifts within the third interval. He additionally spent solely three minutes on the facility play all season, in line with MoneyPuck.
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For many of these 38 video games, Holloway performed alongside McLeod, together with his third linemate ceaselessly rotating. He was typically paired with defensively-minded forwards and utilized in a checking position, a stark distinction to the scoring position he had performed all through his profession.
What Does Alternative Look Like for Holloway?
Whereas it’s clear that Holloway by no means had a real alternative in Edmonton, what may that likelihood seem like in St. Louis? At the start, he must see time on the facility play, possible on the second unit. Holloway is just too expert to be overlooked, particularly provided that he has but to be given an actual shot to point out his worth on the person benefit.
At even power, the Blues must play Holloway alongside a play-driving scorer. Pavel Buchnevich, who has maintained a tempo of almost 30 targets and 65+ factors in every of the final three seasons, can be a great match on the alternative wing. Brayden Schenn, a dependable playmaking and two-way heart, may full the road. Placing Holloway on this place would set him alongside two veterans who’ve NHL expertise and may also help ease him into this elevated position.
Holloway Faces Roadblocks
Whereas it’s simple to pencil Holloway in as a second-line ahead, it would create a number of points all through the lineup. Amongst St. Louis’ youthful forwards, Holloway will likely be competing for ice time with Jake Neighbours, who’s aiming for a breakout season, and rookie Zack Bolduc. Consequently, head coach Drew Bannister could lean in direction of the extra acquainted faces over a newcomer like Holloway.
STL, meet Dylan Holloway 🤩 #stlblues pic.twitter.com/8TMHOVt6Xt
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 22, 2024
Along with Neighbours and Bolduc, the Blues have older choices in Brandon Saad, Radek Faksa, Mathieu Joseph, Alexandre Texier, and Oskar Sundqvist who every have confirmed expertise within the NHL and had been hopeful to cement the underside six. Though Holloway was a former first-round decide, the Blues solely sacrificed a third-round decide to accumulate him by way of the supply sheet, so the group could not really feel a powerful obligation to develop him right into a top-six ahead. This doesn’t imply they won’t work on his growth, however the focus could also be extra on Broberg. Sadly, at 23 years outdated, conserving Holloway caught in a bottom-six position for too lengthy may severely hinder his progress and be detrimental to his long-term growth.
Holloway’s Ceiling & Flooring
If Holloway is given the top-six alternative outlined right here, he has the potential to attain shut to twenty targets and 40 factors. With a powerful wrist shot and the advantage of enjoying alongside skilled NHL expertise, he ought to discover his approach onto the scoresheet fairly a bit, even when there are some rising pains. From there, he may develop right into a winger able to 25+ targets and 60+ factors per season in his prime.
Nonetheless, if the Blues place Holloway in a bottom-six position with out power-play time, he may battle to safe an everyday spot within the lineup. With stiff competitors for ice time, being relegated to a checking position would restrict his offensive output and stall his growth, resulting in what might be one other disappointing season.
Essentially the most real looking state of affairs for Holloway could also be beginning on the third line with step by step rising tasks, finally incomes time on the second power-play unit. Whereas this wouldn’t be disastrous in his first season with the Blues, for a crew trying to construct a contending ahead core within the coming seasons, limiting Holloway to a bottom-six position will not be a great long-term technique.
