The Edmonton Oilers have endured plenty of roster turnover in recent years.
Despite back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup finals, the salary cap has forced lots of player movement in and out of Edmonton.
While none of it has involved the core group of stars, there’s certainly been quite a bit of work around the edges and depths of the roster. The most notable of them all, of course, was losing young studs Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to the St. Louis Blues via offer sheets last summer.
Not matching Broberg’s hefty price tag was understandable, but Holloway is a different story. His just under $2.3 million average annual salary was more than affordable, and a massive breakout season in 2024-25 made things look even worse for Edmonton.
To make up for it, Caleb Kerney of Heavy Sports is suggesting that the Oilers right last offseason’s wrong and re-acquire Holloway in a big trade with the Blues.
Oilers receive: Dylan Holloway
Blues receive: Matt Savoie, Troy Stecher, 2026 third-round pick
“This proposal gives the Oilers a legitimate option in their top six who is familiar with the majority of the team—the St. Louis Blues acquire a young prospect with a two-way game who can contribute immediately,” Kerney wrote.
“This deal sees the Oilers acquire Holloway, who was drafted 14th overall in 2020. The 6-foot-1, 207 lb forward had a career year with the Blues—putting together a 26-goal, 63-point campaign in 77 games. In return, the Blues’ primary acquisition would be Matt Savoie, 21. The 5-foot-10, 179 lb forward was originally drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2022. Savoie spent the majority of his time in 2024-25 in the AHL, where he collected 54 points in 66 games,” Kerney added.
The 24-year-old Holloway will be entering the final season of that two-year, $4,580,914 contract he signed as an offer sheet from the Blues in 2024.
St. Louis won’t be moving Holloway
While the thought of the Edmonton Oilers reacquiring Dylan Holloway is intriguing, it’s quite unlikely that the Blues would even think about letting him go.
Holloway fit in like a glove in his first season in St. Louis, racking up 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 77 games. He showed tremendous chemistry with star center Robert Thomas and should be a key piece of the puzzle for years to come.
The only possible way for Holloway to become available is if contract negotiations on a new deal with the Blues don’t go well.
However, with how much he’s enjoyed being a Blue and the almost $26 million the team will have in cap space next summer, the Oilers will probably need to shift their focus elsewhere if they want to upgrade at forward.
