Bouchard and Dobson were negotiating in a flat cap window. Bouchard is also in optimal conditions to fully leverage his value on one of the highest scoring teams in the league. Discussion is now allegedly beginning with the outlier Dahlin $11 million AAV deal so not a surprise to anyone Bouchard opted to stay within a positive, clear situation where he is lead dog top pair D and PP driver on one producing historic results. Dobson too is optimally placed on a team that's developed him well with clear progressive game. I imagine we might agree all of these negotiations are an ongoing, active process that just doesn't land on a number and signed. The discussion likely ranges about short, medium, long-term commitment options with variable financial amounts. The underlaying message is 'we value you' and we have a roadmap for deployment and financially within our team structure.
The common factor is a clear, defined progressive role within their drafted team. Comfortable with their handling, the team's financial investment now (and quite likely through tabled offers with variable years and financial term). Unfortunately, none of that reflects Broberg and if Holloway and agent are to believed they also expressed doubts about opportunity and future on a stacked veteran team chasing a Cup.
Overwhelmingly, players that are developed well and see a clear growth path and feel there is good faith negotiation including short, medium, long-term tabled offers, there is strong consideration to sign. Unfortunately that's not the Broberg reality.
It's not about scrambling after the fact to shoehorn an unaffordable Broberg or Holloway into a tenuous cap situation. Rather a viable path to control the outcome by early, assertive negotiation and exploring trade options if there is no way to reconcile player value within the Cap budget this year and years beyond. They already had a sense of market value with St. Louis and strong interest in both players. A natural starting place for two development phase players coming off solid performance deep in the playoffs.