Sabres Missed Out on Prime Offer Sheet Candidate

Earlier this week, the St. Louis Blues shocked the hockey world by signing both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to offer sheets. With this, the Edmonton Oilers now have big decisions to make regarding their former first-round picks. If they choose not to match St. Louis’ offer sheets, they will receive a 2025 second-round pick for Broberg and a 2025 third-round pick for Holloway.

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The Blues’ offer sheet for Broberg is a two-year, $9.16 million contract, and Holloway’s is a two-year, $4.58 million deal.

With the Buffalo Sabres having multiple impactful left-shot defensemen, Broberg would not have been the best fit as an offer sheet candidate for them. However, when it comes to Holloway, he could have been a perfect offer sheet candidate.

It is no secret that the Sabres would benefit by adding one more winger to their roster before the start of the season. Holloway, a former top prospect on the rise, would have been a great player for Buffalo to have taken a gamble on with an offer sheet because of it.

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Holloway, 22, appeared in 38 games this past season with the Oilers, recording six goals, nine points, and 91 hits. He also notably played in all 25 playoff games for the Oilers this year, recording five goals and seven points. It was a big step in the right direction for the 2020 first-round pick, and he should build on it in 2024-25, whether he ends up staying in Edmonton or joining St. Louis.

Nevertheless, with the Sabres needing more depth at left wing and Holloway having the potential to blossom into a top-six forward who provides both offense and grit, he could have been a good player for Buffalo to have sent an offer sheet. This is especially so when noting that they had the cap space and third-round pick to potentially pull off such a move.