Think I've referenced it in most of my posts on this precedent setting event. No team has faced a double RFA offer in a season let alone two players targeted by one organization. The Oilers quite likely fend off one offer sheet but two is difficult as we've seen it push them to a cap overage of $7,225, 541.
Holloway's salary level and increase is within reason where on its own it would be easy to match. Add the second player Broberg and sign him strategically to a very high stretch financial amount but still within a low compensation range and it requires the Oilers to make a fundamental choice including roster cuts if they take the big gulp to retain both young players.
The Blues have a strong core of young prime year forwards (and pedigree prospect pool) so Holloway is a nice to have. Whereas they have an old, expensive d-corp with no-trade provisions including Krug who has utilized it to prevent a trade. They've been on record as wanting to better balance their cap expenditure across the roster. Fortuitously with Krug now on LTIR (after scuttling yet another trade), they have the money, roster spot, and opportunity to run at Broberg. A player they have allegedly coveted for some time including this past trade deadline.
Blues biggest priority in their retool, not rebuild stategy is to find young NHL defensemen. Broberg for a 2nd round pick is a reasonable gamble of a marginal asset. Adding Holloway to their aggressive move makes it more difficult for Edmonton who've left themselves in a cap deficit. Holloway for a 3rd round pick is a pretty solid consolation prize.
The Oilers getting f***ed by the NHL is hardly a precedent setting event.
The Oilers can match for one player while hard up against the cap. The Oilers can match for the other player while hard up against the cap. The Oilers can match for both players while hard up against the cap. Re-sign these highly important depth players while hard up against the cap while not yet re-signing Draisaitl or Bouchard. Hard up against the cap while not yet signing McDavid.
The Oilers can walk away from one player receiving minimal compensation. The Oilers can walk away from the other player receiving minimal compensation. The Oilers can walk away from both players receiving minimal compensation.
These choices are independent of each other but I can't see re-signing either player while not yet having signed our stars. We just lost our depth and we've yet to re-sign our stars.
Management was silent before the offer sheets and remains silent after the offer sheets. What is Bowman going to say? "Sorry, we just got f***ed, it's haha funny because it's karma."
The Oilers are always the team getting f***ed. We lost cost control certainty on our depth and likely our two best young NHLers. We have yet to re-sign our NHL stars. Obviously I know they can't re-sign McDavid for another season but the fact is we still have to re-sign him.
Most of the fanbase is in shock repeating the bullshit junk the stupid ass media robots are saying. We may have lost the ability to win a cup. Management has to be extraordinary from here on out because we just got majorly f***ed.
