Broberg and Holloway keep showing
why the Blues poached them from the Oilers last summer
[February 28, 2025]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
WASHINGTON (AP) — Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway keep showing why
the St. Louis Blues poached them from the Edmonton Oilers last
summer.
Broberg scored twice and Holloway got his 18th goal of the season in
a 5-2 victory at the Washington Capitals on Thursday night that
keeps them right on the edge of the playoff race in the Western
Conference. Coach Jim Montgomery and defenseman Colton Parayko
lauded Broberg and Holloway for their professionalism, which paves
the way for on-ice success.
“They’re rink rats,” Montgomery said. "They watch video. They’re
locked in. Practice, they’re dialed in. When it’s their turn to go,
they’re going as hard as they can. And then in games it’s just how
well they compete and the athletic ability.”
Holloway had five goals on the Oilers' run to Game 7 of the Stanley
Cup Final, and Broberg played a valuable role stepping in during the
West final last season. Each a restricted free agent, they went
unsigned by the West champs until August.
St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong pounced, signing them to
offer sheets — Broberg two years, $9.16 million and Holloway two
years, $4.58 million — that Edmonton declined to match. Parayko
acknowledged not knowing much about them, but what he found out
quickly impressed him.
“They came into training camp, you could see how detailed the way
they work hard every day, in the weight room, on the ice,” Paryako
said. "Just good seeing those guys have a lot of success because
they work super hard and they’ve got a bright future ahead of them —
both of them.”
The Oilers have hit a midseason slump, losing five in a row
sandwiched around the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Meanwhile, Holloway in 60 games this season has surpassed his
scoring total from 115 regular-season and playoff games with the
team that drafted him in the first round in 2020. The 23-year-old
winger said he and Broberg were at peace with their decision to sign
the offer sheets and looked forward to bigger roles than they had
with Edmonton.
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St. Louis Blues center Dylan Holloway (81) shoots the puck past
Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas (21) during the second
period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in
Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
“That’s one thing that we knew coming here, that we
were going to get more opportunity," Holloway said. “And I think as
young players that’s big for our development."
Broberg, a smooth-skating Swedish defenseman who turned 23 just
after the loss to Florida in the final, had 16 points during his
entire time with the Oilers. He has 20 this season.
“It’s been fun," Broberg said. "I think the group here is great, and
everybody welcomed me in so well and made me feel comfortable right
away, and I’m sure Holloway felt the same. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Montgomery, who replaced Drew Bannister as coach in November,
believes Broberg is finally feeling confident about joining the rush
offensively. And he thinks Holloway is just scratching the surface
of the player he can become.
“He’s obviously gained confidence," Montgomery said. "He knows he’s
really good in this league, and I just think he’s going to keep
getting better. He’s not close to his ceiling, in my opinion.”
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