The St. Louis Blues tendering offer sheets to two Edmonton Oilers players has sparked fresh speculation about how the Oilers and the rest of the NHL will react. Philip Broberg [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA4NTYzNzcxMDc1OTk0Nzk3/usatsi_23069955_168400847_lowres.jpg] Philip Broberg On Tuesday, the NHL's August dog days received a jolt as the St. Louis Blues tendered offer sheets [https://thehockeynews.com/news/what-comes-next-as-st-louis-blues-tender-offer-sheets-to-two-oilers-youngsters] to Edmonton Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg and winger Dylan Holloway. Broberg's offer from the Blues is a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4,580,917, while Holloway's is two years worth $2,290,457 annually. It's the first time a team has signed two players from the same club to offer sheets on the same day. The Oilers have seven days from Tuesday to match those offers or lose both players to the Blues. Based on the proposed salaries, the compensation to the Oilers for Broberg is a second-round pick and a third-rounder for Holloway. Blues GM Doug Armstrong hopes to capitalize on the Oilers' current salary-cap crunch. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports [https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/st-louis-blues-offer-sheet-oilers-broberg-holloway] they were already sitting over the $88-million cap by $341,667 when the offer sheets were signed. As per the collective bargaining agreement, teams must use their own picks as compensation to sign players to offer sheets. Armstrong had traded away the Blues' 2025 second-round pick along with Kevin Hayes to the Pittsburgh Penguins last month. However, he reacquired that pick on Tuesday. The Hockey News' Adam Proteau considers this a desperate move [https://thehockeynews.com/news/reaction-st-louis-blues-offer-sheets-to-oilers-duo-show-desperation-to-get-back-into-playoffs] by Armstrong to get the Blues back into the playoffs after missing the last two post-seasons. Meanwhile, Jonathan Tovell explained the Oilers cannot trade the rights to either player during those seven days. If they match, those players cannot be traded for one year. Matheson explored the Oilers' options to address this situation. One is putting winger Evander Kane and his $5.125-million cap hit on long-term injury reserve if he requires sports hernia surgery. That'll help them keep one player but not both unless other cost-cutting moves are made. The Oilers would have to shed more salary to become cap-compliant once Kane is ready to come off LTIR in the regular season. If Kane isn't LTIR-ready, the Oilers could go the trade route. There was speculation suggesting [https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-edmonton-oilers-arent-done-making-cost-cutting-moves] Cody Ceci ($3.25 million) or Brett Kulak ($2.75 million) could be cost-cutting candidates. Sportsnet's Mark Spector thinks the Oilers could keep one of them [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/what-to-expect-next-in-oilers-blues-offer-sheet-drama/] and let the other go to the Blues. Holloway's offer sheet would be the more affordable to match, but losing the promising Broberg could be a blow to the Oilers' blueline. Nevertheless, Spector believes they're more likely to retain Holloway. Meanwhile, teams with unsigned RFAs could be nervously watching this situation, wondering if their players could become offer-sheet targets. The Hockey News' Connor Earegood speculated [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day/why-the-broberg-and-holloway-offer-sheets-might-speed-up-detroits-rfa-process] this could speed up the Detroit Red Wings' efforts to sign Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. Carter Brooks pondered [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/latest-news/will-the-blues-oilers-offer-sheet-situation-affect-winnipegs-cole-perfetti] how this could affect the Winnipeg Jets' efforts to re-sign Cole Perfetti. Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
