Elliotte Friedman claims Edmonton Oilers wouldn't have faced offer sheet drama if Ken Holland was still GM

By ARJUN B

Modified Aug 16, 2024 11:00 GMT

The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a situation, as two of their promising young players, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, have signed offer sheets with the St. Louis Blues

Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that this drama could have been avoided had Ken Holland been still at the helm as the Oilers' general manager.

Speaking to Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, Friedman said:

“If Ken Holland was still GM of the Oilers, there’s no way these offer sheets are getting done, and I do think Doug Armstrong's (Blues GM) friendship with Ken Holland absolutely plays a role into how this played out."

The offer sheets present a significant challenge for the Oilers. Broberg's two-year, $9.16 million deal would require a second-round pick as compensation if not matched, while Holloway's two-year, $4.58 million contract would cost a third-round pick (as per NHL.com). The Edmonton Oilers have until Aug. 20 to make their decision.

Friedman's insights reveal a deeper issue, particularly with Broberg. The young defenseman reportedly requested a trade in Dec. 2023 after being sent down to the AHL, feeling his progress was blocked by veteran acquisitions like Brett Kulak and Mattias Ekholm.

While Broberg's performances improved later in the season, Friedman suspects the player's discontent persisted.

“It’s becoming more and more clear to me now that Broberg had thought long and hard. … “I’m just not convinced he ever changed his mind (on trade request),” Friedman said.

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Elliotte Friedman on Edmonton Oilers matching Broberg's offer sheet

Elliotte Friedman said that if the Edmonton Oilers match the offer sheet and keep Broberg, they have two years to figure the right fit for him.

“If the Oilers match and they keep Broberg, they’ve got two years to sort that out. Like, he’s going to play, he’s going to play a lot, and eventually he’s going to play on his strong side, if he isn’t next year," Friedman said.

“If they match him they’ve got two years to figure it out and build a new relationship. … If they match it, they can’t trade him for a year. So it’s in Broberg’s best interest and their best interest to make it work. I do believe relationships can be changed.” he added.

Friedman believes that even though relationships get strained in situations like these, they can be repaired over time.