Recent offer sheets put these Blues players in danger of losing their place in the squad

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong shocked the hockey world earlier this week when the team announced they had tendered offers to sign defenceman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers.

While this was a smart move by Armstrong to potentially sign two young players in the hope that they can become permanent members of the franchise in the future, the announcement may have led to other Blues players becoming concerned about their place in the squad.

The Oilers have until August 20 to match St. Louis’ offer for both players, and perhaps there are those within the organization who secretly hope that happens.

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Below we discuss some of the players who could potentially make the roster if Edmonton does not match the two offers.

First, let’s look at the back end and how the addition of Philip Broberg impacts an NHL veteran and a young, offensively skilled defenseman.

Broberg has yet to prove himself as a full-time NHL player, but he made a strong impression when inserted into the Oilers’ lineup en route to the Stanley Cup Final.

Furthermore, St. Louis wouldn’t offer him $4.5 million a year just to put more pressure on Edmonton to match them. It’s clear the organization believes Broberg is ready for that next step, and in a Blues jersey.

Now, let’s assume St. Louis is without Torey Krug for most (or all) of the season due to his ankle injury. Broberg could take his place in the top four on the left sideline by playing with either Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk.

The move would see 26-year-old defender Scott Perunovich drop back down the squad, which could prove frustrating for the former star.

Should this happen, Perunovich would have to fight for the third pair role against the experienced Ryan Suter, who would seem to be a perfect partner and mentor for young right-hander Matthew Kessel.

If Broberg becomes a St. Louis Blue, the team’s depth on the blueline will get a significant boost, but left-shooting defensemen Perunovich, Suter and PO Joseph will face a three-way battle to keep their spots on the roster.

This is also assuming Matthew Kessel retains his spot on the team’s third pairing, as he has the luxury of being a right-hand shooter compared to the others.

Now let’s move on to the front core.

Edmonton will likely match the Blues’ offer for Dylan Holloway, as it’s not as steep a cap hit. However, if they decide to let their former first-round pick join the St. Louis Blues, the battle to stay in the bottom six will be intense.

If Holloway can increase his offensive output, he will become a significantly stronger middle-six utility forward. He is a coach’s dream. His competitiveness is unmatched and he is willing to adapt his game to whatever role the team needs.

His speed is a perfect match for Mathieu Joseph and Alexandre Texier, and could become the Blues’ third line in 2024-25, which would be an upgrade for the team.

If this dream were to become a reality, it would push newly acquired Radek Faksa back to the team’s fourth-line center, and Alexey Toropchenko would move back to the fourth line. Now, there’s one spot left for Oskar Sundqvist, Kasperi Kapanen, Nathan Walker, Zachary Bolduc, or Dalibor Dvorsky.

Related: Dalibor Dvorsky: “It’s all my fault”

Signing Holloway essentially means that top prospects Bolduc and Dvorsky will have to blow St. Louis’ socks off in training camp to secure a spot on the roster. Both seem eager and ready to make that jump, but bringing in another forward complicates that.

Injuries happen, and having a surplus of players to fill in the depth is a luxury every team wants. Unfortunately, it can upset players when they feel like they’re ready for the next step. They just need to be given the chance.

The organization will be thrilled if the Oilers don’t match the offer and Broberg and Holloway play for St. Louis in October.

Unfortunately, other members of the organization may become concerned about their place in the squad, making the training camp even more important for them.

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