Former NHL GM casts new light on Broberg and Holloway offer sheet failure
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers lost two quality young players last summer with Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to offer sheets, and a former GM has cast new light on the situation.
It's no secret now that both Broberg and Holloway were willing to leave the team to get more ice time with St. Louis, and former GM Brian Lawton has confirmed that in a new interview. For the Oilers, it's only been made worse by the great year both players had.
Oilers made major mistake with losing Broberg and Holloway to offer sheets
Speaking in a new interview with the 100% Hockey Podcast, former GM Brian Lawton really placed the blame on Oilers management for not getting a deal done sooner with Broberg and Holloway.
There's no doubt he welcomed the offer sheet. It wasn't working out. That was a very tough, difficult situation for everyone involved. Ultimately, I would say that both those players, they probably should have been signed You give them a little more and you lock them up. That didn't happen. I wasn't there, so I can't say why.»
- Brian Lawton
- Brian Lawton
But this failure was more than just Ken Holland slacking on contract extensions. The Oilers failed to fully develop Broberg and Holloway, and buried them in the AHL and depth NHL in favour of veteran players.
If they had been given more ice time in Edmonton, they would've been more receptive to an extension. Instead, they were both excited to leave the team for more opportunity elsewhere.
Broberg and Holloway made the Oilers look silly in their first year with St. Louis. Broberg took a massive step toward being a high-end two way defenceman with 29 points in 68 games. Holloway was arguably better on a cheaper contract, scoring 63 points in 77 games.
Losing Broberg has significantly weakened the Oilers right side defence, and losing Holloway's tenacious game undoubtedly hurt the team in the playoffs.
The Oilers should learn a lesson from this failure, and give their young prospects more room to grow in the organization - or risk having them disgruntled and looking for a way out.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 3 | 411 ANSWERS Former NHL GM casts new light on Broberg and Holloway offer sheet failure Do you think the Oilers should've matched at least one offer sheet? | ||
| Yes | 332 | 80.8 % |
| No | 79 | 19.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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