Why Didn’t the Edmonton Oilers Match the Offer Sheets and What Are the Challenges Ahead?

TSN: Ryan Risaug on why the Edmonton Oilers decided not to match the offer sheets of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, and the challenge ahead.

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“There is no doubt, this is a heavy blow to the Edmonton Oilers organization, as it does not match the offer documents of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, making two of the most talented young people in the organization who are now members of the St Louis Blues.

Just to put it in perspective. Broberg came in midway through the Stanley Cup Finals and gave the Oilers the best minutes of his NHL career, and it looks like he’s headed for the top. He was slated to be the third-team defenseman this season to push for secondary minutes.

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Dylan Holloway has bounced through the order during the playoffs and has been one of their most reliable forwards, effort, and smarts, during the playoffs this year, he was a third line player who may have been pushing for second line minutes. this coming season, so two very good young players that the Oilers now don’t have.

So why does this happen? Why did the Oilers choose not to match? To go along with it, it would put them through hell, and they would greatly reduce their flexibility this season.

It would have put them in a situation where, when Evander Kane was ready to return to the lineup, they would have to clear mountains of money and whatever trade they were trying to make at that point in the season, he was facing a difficult situation of weakness. This would really handcuff them to match both players. Even pairing one would put them in the same situation.

So Stan Bowman chooses to bring in a few players who can compete for the same minutes on the roster in the trades he made. He also opened up more cap space with the departure of Cody Ceci, which the Oilers needed to do this summer and maintain flexibility heading into this season.

Bottom line, the Oiler blue line isn’t as good as it was in the postseason. And now it’s up to Stan Bowman to find a way to put it together to allow this team to be one of the best teams in the NHL and certainly one of the best teams in the conference, which is where the bar sits now.

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So can he put together a blue line that can maintain that level until they reach the trade deadline, where they’ll likely have accumulated some space, and can make a move to try to land them? It’s a step back from the blue line. No question. That’s his challenge going into the regular season.”