After much anticipation and speculation, the Edmonton Oilers have officially declined to match the offer sheets for forwards Jesper Broberg and Colton Holloway, allowing them to join the St. Louis Blues.
The Oilers had until 3 p.m. ET on Saturday to make a decision on whether to match the offer sheets, which were submitted by the Blues earlier this week. Ultimately, the team decided not to match the offers, which were reportedly worth a combined $4.5 million over three years.
Broberg, 22, was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. He spent the past two seasons playing for the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, where he recorded 19 points in 54 games.
Holloway, 21, was drafted by the Oilers in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. He spent last season playing for the University of Wisconsin, where he tallied 35 points in 23 games.
The decision to decline the offer sheets comes as a surprise to many, as both Broberg and Holloway were considered promising prospects for the Oilers. However, it appears that the team has chosen to prioritize their salary cap situation over retaining these young players.
In a statement released by the Oilers, general manager Ken Holland explained the team’s decision, saying, “We have a lot of respect for Jesper and Colton, but we have to make decisions that are in the best interest of our team and our future. We wish them all the best in St. Louis.”
Meanwhile, the Blues are thrilled to add these two talented players to their roster. In a press conference, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong expressed his excitement, saying, “We are very pleased to have Jesper and Colton join our organization. They both bring a unique skill set and we believe they will be valuable assets to our team.”
As Broberg and Holloway begin their new journey with the Blues, it remains to be seen how their absence will affect the Oilers. But one thing is for sure, the NHL offseason continues to be full of surprises and unexpected moves.
