Dylan Holloway has already changed the shape of the Blues’ forward group, and the next question is whether he can stay on the ice long enough to take another step.
That starts with the simple reality of how he arrived in St. Louis.
Two years ago, the Blues did something that shook the NHL: then-general manager Doug Armstrong sent offer sheets to two players on the same team, an almost unheard-of move in the modern league. Edmonton had put itself in a tight cap spot and assumed its pending restricted free agents, Philip Broberg and Holloway, would settle for inexpensive bridge deals.
GM Stan Bowman was wrong. The Oilers didn’t match, and St.
Louis came away with a top-pair defenseman and a very good top-six forward.
That was a clear win for the Blues, and Holloway is still just scratching the surface.
Last season, he produced 22 goals, 29 assists and 51 points in 59 games. On paper, that’s a solid year.
The problem is how often he wasn’t available. Holloway missed the final stretch of the 2024-25 season and was also out for the Blues’ first-round playoff loss to the Winnipeg Jets, which has left an uncomfortable “injury history” tag hanging over him as he begins the first season of his five-year, $7.75-million AAV contract.
When Holloway is in the lineup, though, he gives St. Louis plenty to work with.
He’s been a reliable finisher, shooting 13 percent over his NHL career, and he helps create offense for others too. He also tilts the ice in the right direction.
Holloway has posted a positive expected Goals For percentage in every NHL season, and among regular Blues forwards last season, he ranked third with a 52.86 xGF%.
That’s why the health piece matters so much. The Blues need him not just as a useful scorer, but as a player who can help them avoid drifting into mediocrity and keep pace with the heavy hitters in the Central Division.
If he stays healthy in 2026-27, the ceiling is obvious. Holloway could be in the mix for 30 goals and has a real chance to top his career-best 63 points from his first season in St.
Louis. He should get top-six minutes, most likely next to Robert Thomas, with some time possible alongside newcomer Mason McTavish.
He’ll also see plenty of power-play chances.
The big if is still there, but the upside is too. If Holloway holds up, a career year is well within reach.
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Dylan Holloway Is Giving The Blues Another Core Piece To Believe In
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There is also a broader conversation beginning to form around Holloways ceiling, one that reaches beyond the Central Division. His development has been strong enough to invite early talk about future international opportunities, and it only adds to the sense that the Blues may have found another piece worth investing in for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]