NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers - Source: Imagn — Dylan Holloway reflects on Oilers exit, future as Blues star (Image Credit: Imagn)

"Better opportunity for me" - Dylan Holloway reflects on Oilers exit, future as Blues star

Modified Aug 21, 2024 14:26 GMT

Dylan Holloway signed an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues in free agency and the Edmonton Oilers made the difficult decision not to match. Despite being a restricted free agent, Holloway finds himself on a new team with a different outlook for 2024-25.

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On paper, the Oilers and Blues are not in the same stratosphere right now. However, Holloway is optimistic. He said:

"I felt that this was a better opportunity for me personally. ... St. Louis is building something special. It's got a good young core group of guys, so I'm excited to be part of that."

In two years with the Oilers, Holloway scored just 18 total points, so he's off to a new team where he might have a better opportunity to make an impact on the ice.

Oilers GM discusses Dylan Holloway exit

When a restricted free agent enters free agency, the decisions an NHL GM must make are not easy. They have to decide if they want to match what their player was offered. They don't have to, but it's a unique benefit of being restricted vs. unrestricted.

Dylan Holloway is now with the Blues (Imagn)

The Edmonton Oilers opted not to match the offer sheet the St. Louis Blues signed Dylan Holloway to. Oilers GM Stan Bowman, who was brought in to make tough decisions like this, said via NHL:

"We were evaluating the situation that we were in when those offer sheets came in and given that, as well as the other constraints that we have, we didn't feel like it was the right move to essentially limit our optionality moving forward not only this year but in the future.

"So, it's less about the players and the abilities and their talents. It's really about trying to set ourselves up in the best position that we can be, so that we have some options."

The Oilers made the Stanley Cup Final last season, falling just short at 4-3 after an epic comeback from being down 3-0. Their task now is to avoid setbacks and try to get over the hump, and moves like this are ones they have to make in an effort to do so.