Holloway The Best FA Signing Since Shanahan?

[Lloyd Braun]

Al MacInnis is probably the best ever

We think of it as a trade... but technically he was signed as a restricted free agent and then we immediately worked out compensation with Calgary by sending them Housley and swapping picks.

Here's what Gemini says about it:

On July 4, 1994, the St. Louis Blues acquired Al MacInnis from the Calgary Flames, not through a trade, but by signing him to an offer sheet, with the Blues sending Phil Housley and two second-round draft picks in compensation.

Offer Sheet: MacInnis, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues for $3.5 million per season for four years, making him the fourth highest-paid player in the NHL.

Compensation: The Flames, in turn, received Phil Housley and two second-round draft picks (1996 and 1997) from the Blues as compensation for signing MacInnis.

[STL fan in MN]

It’s insane all the Blues paid for Holloway was a 3rd. The Blues also send the Oilers Paul Fischer and an additional 3rd so I suppose you could attribute some of that to acquiring Holloway as well but either way, it’s an insanely cheap price.

Shanny was a HOF level player but he cost us a ton. Holloway cost us very very little.

[Army's Mom]

No doubt he's helping shape the team like Shanahan. Here's my take on the team dynamics.

It really seems that Holloway and Neighbours are slowly changing the identity of this team. And Schenn is being a true leader is letting them grab it. Any good manager knows when you have leaders on your team you let them grab it, all the while guiding them. Schenn is still captain, but he needs others to help mold and lead the team.

And with all this, I give a shoutout to Thomas. He's the leader in stability. A point per game player leading the skill. And to a lesser extent Kyrou. Kyrou can pass his knowledge of being in the league to the youngers, but not feel the weight that he's all of the scoring.

The whole team is playing for each other. It's wonderful to see. No longer are the boys skating away after someone pokes Binnington after the whistle or takes a cheap shot. The whole team steps in. This is Monty with Schenn as his lead.

Well said. I don't think Broberg has been any less of a contributor, just not as noticeable as Holloway flying all around the ice.

The young forwards including Thomas and Kyrou are playing up to their potential along the arc of their development curves. Bolduc is blossoming now, too. These guys were all accomplished young hockey players, leaders on the ice. All those mentioned are or may soon be all-star caliber players. And there are likely more to come.

Holloway in my view benefitted greatly from being around McDavid and Draisaitl. He's as aggressive a skater in his own right as McDavid and he can shoot the puck; he knows how to work for puck control and for a good quuck shot. He's leading by example, he's relentless on the ice. If there was a better signing I cannot think of who it was.

Another good point - leading by example. I've noticed his game away from the puck has gotten a lot faster, a lot more anticipatory. He's getting ahead of where the opponent is going and checking well, or using his stick to force the turnover, or both. I think he's also benefitted a lot from playing with Schenn, honestly.

I'm with you, I can't think of a better signing.

[Hockey Pete]

It’s insane all the Blues paid for Holloway was a 3rd. The Blues also send the Oilers Paul Fischer and an additional 3rd so I suppose you could attribute some of that to acquiring Holloway as well but either way, it’s an insanely cheap price.

Shanny was a HOF level player but he cost us a ton. Holloway cost us very very little.

Yup, one HOF'er for another. Sad part is that if Blues management hadn't squandered/lost their first round picks, we would have kept Stevens as well.

[LewisL]

Al MacInnis is probably the best ever

We think of it as a trade... but technically he was signed as a restricted free agent and then we immediately worked out compensation with Calgary by sending them Housley and swapping picks.

Here's what Gemini says about it:

On July 4, 1994, the St. Louis Blues acquired Al MacInnis from the Calgary Flames, not through a trade, but by signing him to an offer sheet, with the Blues sending Phil Housley and two second-round draft picks in compensation.

Offer Sheet: MacInnis, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues for $3.5 million per season for four years, making him the fourth highest-paid player in the NHL.

Compensation: The Flames, in turn, received Phil Housley and two second-round draft picks (1996 and 1997) from the Blues as compensation for signing MacInnis.

On the compensation, Housley was certainly no slouch. So I feel Holloway might be a better signing based on compensation.
And Broberg actually could be the 2nd best signing right now. He presently leads the Blues in plus/minus. And in the long run, it's still possible that Broberg's signing might end up be ranked higher than Holloway's.

[DawgDad]

It’s insane all the Blues paid for Holloway was a 3rd. The Blues also send the Oilers Paul Fischer and an additional 3rd so I suppose you could attribute some of that to acquiring Holloway as well but either way, it’s an insanely cheap price.

Shanny was a HOF level player but he cost us a ton. Holloway cost us very very little.

Yup, one HOF'er for another. Sad part is that if Blues management hadn't squandered/lost their first round picks, we would have kept Stevens as well.

If none of that happened there is no Pronger in St. Louis. It was too costly up front.

[TheJackBurton]

It’s insane all the Blues paid for Holloway was a 3rd. The Blues also send the Oilers Paul Fischer and an additional 3rd so I suppose you could attribute some of that to acquiring Holloway as well but either way, it’s an insanely cheap price.

Shanny was a HOF level player but he cost us a ton. Holloway cost us very very little.

Yup, one HOF'er for another. Sad part is that if Blues management hadn't squandered/lost their first round picks, we would have kept Stevens as well.

If none of that happened there is no Pronger in St. Louis. It was too costly up front.

i don't know if you can say that with certainty as I would imagine Keenen was bound and determined to get him.

What I think we can say with certainty is that without it him, it would have cost a lot more than just Shanahan.

[rezero]

I’m not including trading for FA’s and signing them. I honestly can’t think of a better straight up free agent acquisition since Shanny. Am I off base? What a freaking brilliant move by Dougie.

Shanahan? That trade was a black eye in Blues history when the dust settled. We ended up losing Stevens and the four first round draft picks we gave for him for 3 good years of Shanny that yielded us nothing during the playoffs. The best part of the trade, was ultimately getting Pronger for Shanahan.

[Stlcardsblues]

I’m not including trading for FA’s and signing them. I honestly can’t think of a better straight up free agent acquisition since Shanny. Am I off base? What a freaking brilliant move by Dougie.

Shanahan? That trade was a black eye in Blues history when the dust settled. We ended up losing Stevens and the four first round draft picks we gave for him for 3 good years of Shanny that yielded us nothing during the playoffs. The best part of the trade, was ultimately getting Pronger for Shanahan.

It’s been a while, but wasn’t it five first round picks?