Oilers and Canucks working on a trade due to the offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway
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Samer Dagher
Aug 18, 2024 (5:13 PM)
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Photo credit: NHL.com
The Edmonton Oilers are currently scrambling to free up cap space after the St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway to offer sheets.
If the Oilers don't match these offers, they'll lose Broberg for a 2nd-round pick and Holloway for a 3rd-round pick.
With the Blues' unexpected move, the Oilers are under pressure. Reports indicate that Oilers' management, including Jeff Jackson and Stan Bowman, is struggling to create enough cap room to keep both players. Other teams are aware of their difficult situation and are asking for a lot in return for helping them out.
One potential solution could come from a trade with division rival Vancouver Canucks. Reporter Patrick Johnson suggested a trade idea where the Oilers send Brett Kulak to the Canucks in exchange for Tucker Poolman, who is on LTIR due to chronic migraines and likely won't play again. Poolman's contract could be placed on LTIR, freeing up cap space for the Oilers.
"The Vancouver Canucks could offer up an alternative. Rather than demanding a pick, they could ask Edmonton to take the Tucker Poolman contract off their hands. Poolman hasn't played since January 2023 because of migraines and isn't expected to play again. If the Oilers were to pick up Poolman in a deal, they could park his contract on LTIR. In exchange, you've got to think the Canucks might be interested in Kulak, rather than Ceci." -Patrick Johnson
Trading Kulak for Poolman would free up $2.75 million in cap space, which could help the Oilers. However, the team is currently $7.2 million over the cap, so this move might only provide enough space to match one of the offer sheets.
Given the situation, the Oilers are likely to prioritize keeping Broberg, whom they drafted 8th overall in 2019. Losing Holloway, drafted 14th overall, for a 3rd-round pick would be tough, but it might be a reality the Oilers have to face. Broberg has played 81 games with the Oilers, scoring 2 goals and 13 points, plus 3 points in 10 playoff games last season. Whether Broberg or Holloway will stay with the Oilers remains to be seen.
Source: HockeyReference
Philip Broberg Career Statistics
Philip Broberg Career Statistics
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