Blues Couldn’t Have Asked For More Than What They’ve Received From Holloway

ST. LOUIS – When the St. Louis Blues signed two players from the Edmonton Oilers each to an offer sheet, nobody could imagine how things would go for Philip Broberg or Dylan Holloway.

At the start of the season, Broberg received much of the attention, and rightfully so, being the young, up-and-coming defenseman the Blues had craved.

But what about Holloway? What were the Blues expecting from the since-turned 23-year-old forward?

At $2.29 million average annual value, money doesn’t always determine what a player’s ceiling is or how they’ll turn out, but for the production the Blues have received from Holloway through 46 games has to be more than they bargained for.

Holloway wanted more opportunity. Boy, has he gotten it.

After two more assists on Thursday in a 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames, the No. 14 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has more than exceeded projections.

With 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) and a staple in the top six playing with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, at this current clip, Holloway’s two-year contract will be one of Doug Armstrong’s best.

If for some reason – that’s unlikely to happen – Holloway doesn’t produce another point the rest of this season, it’s already been money well spent.

But heck, why not reach for the stars at this point. Holloway is.

“We’re seeing a guy emerge as a real player in this league and I think his confidence is through the roof,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “He knows he’s a good hockey player in the league and he’s going out expecting to be an impact player and he’s being that for us.”

A prime example of Holloway not wanting just his candy on the ice but working his tail off in all facets of the game in order to make the puck work to his best attributes was the hustle play on Schenn’s first of two goals Thursday.

Holloway lost the puck behind the Calgary net but instead of giving up on the play, he sticks with it, uses his stick in the right areas, strips MacKenzie Weegar of the puck and quickly fed Schenn for the tight-range shot to the left of Dustin Wolf:

“I take pride in being able to forecheck hard, hunt pucks, get pucks in the offensive zone and create chances for my linemates,” Holloway said. “They do a great job of that too, so I think just the combination of all three of us doing that is why our line clicks.”

If you think Holloway’s worth ethic hasn’t rubbed off on other teammates, think again. Look at how he’s dragged Kyrou into the battles on that line.

Holloway, leading the Blues with a plus-13, has meshed with the Blues’ leading scorer quite well and the veteran Schenn has made it quite the top six forward line.

“He’s electric. He’s so fast and skilled,” Holloway said of Kyrou. “He demands the puck, wants the puck. Anytime you’ve got a player like that, it’s fun to play with him. I try and read off of him. He’s been playing great hockey. I think he’s an incredible player.”

Holloway has been streaky but when he’s on, he’s really been on.

He followed a five-game pointless streak with 11 points in a seven-game point streak (six goals, five assists), then followed a six-game pointless streak with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) the past 11 games.

“He’s a heck of a talent, he’s relentless,” Schenn said. “He comes to the rink and tries to get better. I’m not just saying that. I really mean that. He’s a guy that wants to be the best version of himself. He works extremely hard, he goes to the hard areas, he has a tremendous amount of skill.

“Both guys (Holloway and Kyrou) are just unreal to play with. Just trying to do a little of the dirty work for them and go around to the front of the net and kind of let their skill take over.”

Holloway is projected to finish the season with 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 82 games. Yeah, the Blues will gladly take that. Imagine how much better the Oilers would be? The Blues are glad nobody will ever know.