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Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made NHL summer headlines with his bold maneuver.
Armstrong gave Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway free-agent offer sheets worth a combined $13.74 million over two years. The Edmonton Oilers declined to match them, so those former first-round draft picks added much-needed speed and skill to the Blues.
After six games, that looks to be money very well spent.
Broberg and Holloway were at it again Saturday night, playing key roles in the Blues’ mid-game revival that led to their 4-3 victory at home over the Carolina Hurricanes.
They showcased their ability with Holloway’s first goal as a Blue.
The Blues’ Dylan Holloway speaks with the media on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, after a win vs. the Carolina Hurricanes. (Video courtesy St. Louis Blues)
He carried the puck into the Carolina zone and dropped a pass to Broberg, the trailer coming down left wing. Broberg wheeled around Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov, cut inside of defenseman Brent Burns and passed the puck past defenseman Jaccob Slavin toward Holloway.
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“He’s got so much confidence right now,” Holloway said. “He’s confident in his ability to make those plays. It’s pretty special to see.”
Crossing the front of the net, Holloway pulled the puck between his legs and beat goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov.
“That’s the only thing I could do, I was in tight,” Holloway said. “I figured, why not try it? I’ve had some chances the last couple of games, and it was definitely nice to see it go in.”
Broberg has earned a point in his first six games as Blue, something no defenseman had done before with the franchise.
“Brobie has been so good,” Holloway said. “I’ve been telling people, too, I’ve been a big Brobie fan, so it’s nice to see him get the success he deserves and I’m sure there’s more to come from him.”
In all six games, Broberg, 23, has provided quality minutes at both ends of the ice in his pairing with veteran Justin Faulk. He was an essential addition to a team that lost Torey Krug to season-ending surgery and needed a young cornerstone defenseman to build around.
“He’s just continuing to build his game and get better,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “Confidence goes a long way obviously at this level.
“His hockey IQ is high. And then his ability kind of takes over. His stick, his ability to skate and close in on plays and just kind of read that next play. He’s an extremely smart hockey player.”
Holloway, 23, has added depth to the forward group. Most recently, he has played on the third line with Brayden Schenn and Mathieu Joseph — the trio who triggered Saturday’s turnaround with aggressive forechecking.
“I’ve been loving playing with Matty and Schenner, two obviously great players,” Holloway said. “Both got a lot of skill, and both can muck, too. So I just try to do as much as I can. I think we are moving the puck nice with each other, at times make plays, at times get it in and go to work.”
Toropchenko joins injured list
Winger Alexey Toropchenko sat out Saturday’s game because of a lower-body injury. Bannister labeled him as sidelined day to day.
He joined defenseman Nick Leddy (lower body), Alexandre Texier (upper body) and Oskar Sundqvist (knee surgery) on the shelf.
Peterson starts fast
Forward Dylan Peterson had an impressive training camp for the Blues, then followed that by enjoying a strong start with the Springfield (Massachusetts) Thunderbirds in the AHL.
Peterson, who played for four seasons at Boston University, had two-goal games on Friday and Saturday. He is a physical power forward who could fill a bottom-six forward role in the NHL as he adds even more strength to his 6-foot-4 frame and adapts to the pro game.
Top forward prospect Dalibor Dvorsky had two goals, two assists and 12 shots on goal in his first four AHL games.
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