Oilers GM Stan Bowman throws shade at Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg's Blues contracts

By Zachary Roberts

Modified Sep 09, 2024 17:51 GMT

Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway were both restricted free agents with the Edmonton Oilers. They're now both with the St. Louis Blues after the team signed them and GM Stan Bowman opted not to match. The offer sheets were expensive, and Bowman didn't believe it was worth matching.

Bowman said, via The Athletic:

"The players can probably grow into those deals, but as of today, they're way above their actual performance."

Bowman added:

“The way it’s being portrayed is also a little bit unfair, that the Oilers were doing some sort of poor-faith negotiating. If you look at both those players, based on their performance, there’s lots of comparable players that have signed this summer and recent years.”

The Oilers opted for financial flexibility but their depth did take a hit after letting young players walk.

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Stan Bowman discusses Blues poaching Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg

The St. Louis Blues made a point of signing not one but two young Edmonton Oilers stars to offer sheets. They maintain that their goal all along was to make sure they got both players. It worked out that way, but the decision to sign two young players from one team has negative optics.

Stan Bowman discussed the signing of both Stan Broberg and Dylan Holloway (Imagn)

Oilers GM Stan Bowman doesn't believe there are any issues between the two sides after St. Louis signed Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. He said things between them are fine, and that he's known Blues GM Doug Armstrong for a long time. Bowman called him "bright" and a "good person:"

“He was trying to do what he could to make his team better. Once you get past the surprise of it, and you then roll your sleeves up and get to work on what you want to do, I don’t think there’s any value in holding grudges. I mean, what good is going to come out of that?"

Bowman said he has to work with all GMs, so it doesn't matter if he likes anyone or not. But in this case, he has no hard feelings toward Armstrong.