Offseason Notebook: Late Summer Edition

In a normal offseason, all the big action happens early on in the summer and then things quiet down. This is not a normal offseason. We’ve had a lot of action in recent weeks.

It’s easy to track off all the big moves so it’s time to catch up and look at all the action around the league. These moves didn’t move the need per se but they are significant and will shape next season.

Blues Acquire Holloway & Broberg

This was a big move for the St. Louis Blues. They signed both restricted free agents and when the offers weren’t matched, they officially acquired the young skaters. Dylan Holloway is a promising forward and Phillip Broberg will strengthen the defense.  

Both skaters add youth to an older roster but the question is if it’s enough. Broberg and Holloway help the Blues but they don’t move the needle for a team that otherwise is on the decline.

Oilers Turnover Roster 

The Edmonton Oilers have a youth movement going. They added Matthew Savoie early on in the offseason and then in recent weeks, they acquired both Vasily Podkolzin and Ty Emberson to the roster. All three are 24 or younger.

These moves came with a cost. The Oilers had to trade away Ryan McLeod to get Savoie and they also lost both Broberg and Holloway. After that, they lost veteran defenseman Cody Ceci in a trade to land Emberson.

In the long run, the Oilers will be better off. However, for a team looking to make a Stanley Cup run, they will miss those veterans. The playoffs are when teams need skaters who can defend and Ceci was a shutdown skater who is tough to replace.

Patrik Laine Goes From Columbus to Montreal

This is a win-win. The Columbus Blue Jackets are finally out of the Patrik Laine contract and they can turn a new page with their rebuild. The Montreal Canadiens now have an elite winger to pair with an already great young core that is in place. So, this is a great deal across the board.

Other Minor Moves This Late in the Offseason

The Winnipeg Jets traded Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins. McGroarty is a top prospect but otherwise, this move was rather uneventful. 

The Nashville Predators traded Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks. He’s the top goaltending prospect in the league and if there is any team that needs him, it’s the Sharks, a team where goaltending was a clear weakness.  

It’s not like there were any earth-shattering moves. However, the season will look slightly different with a handful of players moving around right before training camp begins.