51ºÚÁÏ

The Offer Sheet Boys won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season.

When Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg arrived in 51ºÚÁÏ last summer after Blues general manager Doug Armstrong pulled off a successful double-offer sheet maneuver, they were somewhat unknown quantities.

Broberg played 80% of his games in 2023-24 in the AHL. Holloway had 18 total points in 89 NHL games with the Oilers. Broberg’s minutes were limited to a third-pair role. Holloway was held at 11 1/2 minutes a night. Neither had taken on larger roles in the NHL, and both were being paid above market value, as is expected for offer sheets.

But both players turned those contracts into bargains during their first seasons with the Blues.

Holloway scored 26 goals to rank second on the Blues. He assisted on 37 others to also rank second on the Blues. In posting a career-high 63 points, Holloway transformed himself into a vital and indispensable part of the Blues’ offense. Together with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, he helped form one of the top lines in the league and his late-season injury impacted the Blues’ ability to beat the Jets in the first round.

Holloway ($2.29 million cap hit) was one of 15 forwards in the NHL with at least 25 goals and a cap hit under $2.5 million. Nine of those players were on cheap entry-level contracts, but Holloway (at 23 years old) was the youngest player in that group on a standard contract.

Broberg had eight goals and 21 assists in 68 games, falling one point shy of becoming the first Blues defenseman under 24 to rack up 30 points since Vince Dunn in 2018-19. Early in the season, Broberg and Justin Faulk formed the most effective defensive pairing for 51ºÚÁÏ, and they acted as the de facto top pair in March when Colton Parayko was sidelined by a knee injury.

At a $4.58 million cap hit, Broberg was one of 32 defensemen with at least 25 points and a cap hit under $5 million.

Now, the questions surrounding Holloway and Broberg are less about if they will be good, and more about how good they can be. Plus, there is the next contract situation.

Both Holloway and Broberg will become restricted free agents next summer and have been eligible for contract extensions since July 1. In June, Armstrong said extensions for them were not priorities since the Blues will own their rights as RFAs anyway.

With the salary cap rising, a new market has not been set for young to-be RFAs, outside of long-term bets on Frank Nazar (Chicago) and Jackson Blake (Carolina) that aren’t that applicable to the current Blues. The Blues don’t appear eager to set the new market themselves.

Of course, both players could increase their value with big seasons in 2025-26.

Holloway could become more well-rounded on the defensive side of the game. Or he could become an even more dangerous part of the Blues power play. Or more of a playmaker to boost his assist numbers.

Broberg could take a step forward on the offensive end of the ice, potentially stealing ice time on the second power play unit. Or he could be counted on more in occasional shutdown roles. Or he could emphasize his skating more to drive offense in transition.

Whatever they do, they won’t be surprising many this season.