Extensions For Fowler, Broberg, Holloway Not A Priority For Blues

[TBone]

Extensions for Cam Fowler, Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway not a priority for Blues this summer

By Matthew DeFranks
June 23, 2025

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With the salary cap jumping $7.5 million this summer, at least $8.5 million next summer and at least $9.5 million in 2027, player contracts are also expected to increase. Armstrong said the Blues “don’t need to set the market” with costs rising.

“If we cap space now, we’re going to have millions more next year,” Armstrong said. “If they came to us or we went to them with something that both sides thought was good, (maybe it works). But if one side thinks that they want to leverage the other one, I don’t think it’s necessary to do.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/profess ... adf38.html

[moose-and-squirrel]

if they wait till someone else sets the market, they'll be sorry

re-signing Borberg and Holloway should definitely be a priority

[MiamiLaw]

if they wait till someone else sets the market, they'll be sorry

re-signing Borberg and Holloway should definitely be a priority

Definitely agree with Holloway. I wouldn’t play games with that one

[skilles]

if they wait till someone else sets the market, they'll be sorry

re-signing Borberg and Holloway should definitely be a priority

Definitely agree with Holloway. I wouldn’t play games with that one

I mean you wouldn't have a choice, they have professional agents and are both relatively broke as neither Holloway or Broberg have cashed in yet and are about to sign away the prime of their lives. Games are going to be played although if I'm Army I'm not trying to make any of it public.

[LGB73]

if they wait till someone else sets the market, they'll be sorry

re-signing Borberg and Holloway should definitely be a priority

I agree. Getting them signed gives us cost certainty on what we will have available to spend to fix other holes. Seems like an odd stance to take for the organization and make public.

[Old_Goat]

Relax, it's a priority. Not just this week. See how things play out for the next couple of months, so they know what they can be dealing with re players and dollars, etc. Knowledge is power. I'm sure their agents and the players understand that and are not offended. If they wait 9-12 months, then we can rightfully worry.

[moose-and-squirrel]

if they wait till someone else sets the market, they'll be sorry

re-signing Borberg and Holloway should definitely be a priority

I agree. Getting them signed gives us cost certainty on what we will have available to spend to fix other holes. Seems like an odd stance to take for the organization and make public.

hey, we can always sign Jeff Skinner and worry about it later!

[DawgDad]

Let's get real here, Broberg is making $4.58 million and Holloway $2.29 million. No one is going hungry, no one is underpaid. Neither side should be negotiating in public.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

Both are RFAs and they will both be pushing close to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd round compensation level on their next contracts. Giving up your 1,2, and 3 is a decent deterent to making an offer. It's not like the Blues only having to give up a 2nd for one and a 3rd for the other to make their offers.

[seattleblue]

Holloway is an emerging player and those contracts can be dangerous based on one breakout year at a young age, so I think I see what he's saying about letting the market tell both sides what it should be. Armstrong is looking for more comps and has the players under control while he does that.

Personally I need to see Broberg this year before I know what range of contract I want him to get. He is not 100% proven to me.

The Fowler contract ... that is more interesting to me because coming out of the playoffs the way Armstrong was talking was like extending Fowler was a priority. Now, he's sending a signal that it's more fluid. If I interpret it in overall defensive context, then it seems the chances are increasing (at the moment, he could easily start talking about extending Fowler again in a month or so) they might have a bigger change on D incoming this offseason and will need to assess what they have to pay everyone. If you think you might have to accommodate the contract of a significant player then you would want to buy time before locking in a defenseman you do want to keep but who isn't urgently demanding an extension.

Now it doesn't have to be a defenseman's contract he is anticipating adding, so it's tea leaves. But it's interesting to observe.

[rbirules]

Both are RFAs and they will both be pushing close to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd round compensation level on their next contracts. Giving up your 1,2, and 3 is a decent deterent to making an offer. It's not like the Blues only having to give up a 2nd for one and a 3rd for the other to make their offers.

Exactly this. The top of the current threshold for just a 1st, and a 3rd is $7.02M. I would think the Blues would gladly match an offer sheet for either Broberg or Holloway a year from now at that price point, assuming they play well. Anything above $7.02M (up to $9.36M, currently) would return the Blues the aforementioned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd from a team (assuming a team has all of those picks of theirs, which is pretty uncommon to begin with). Then it becomes a question of what is the better value and decision for the team at that point in time.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

Both are RFAs and they will both be pushing close to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd round compensation level on their next contracts. Giving up your 1,2, and 3 is a decent deterent to making an offer. It's not like the Blues only having to give up a 2nd for one and a 3rd for the other to make their offers.

Exactly this. The top of the current threshold for just a 1st, and a 3rd is $7.02M. I would think the Blues would gladly match an offer sheet for either Broberg or Holloway a year from now at that price point, assuming they play well. Anything above $7.02M (up to $9.36M, currently) would return the Blues the aforementioned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd from a team (assuming a team has all of those picks of theirs, which is pretty uncommon to begin with). Then it becomes a question of what is the better value and decision for the team at that point in time.

Just read the athletic article where DA said that they would have the cap room and make a qualifying offer if it gets that far so they would end up going to arbitration if they couldn't reach an agreement (referring to both Broberg and Holloway). Really no need to do anything rash. Need to see how DH bounces back from injury, and see how Broberg develops before making a crazy contract offer. FWIW, I really like both players.

[Harry S Deals]

Everybody relax

A) The Blues arent letting the Offer Sheet Boys leave
B) They are getting paid big money at some point but alas its not your money so dont worry about it

[bluetunehead]

I think that's fine. Holloway kind of needs to prove he has another year in him like this past season. I think he will, but a lot of guys can have one good season. If he does then there is no issue giving him a Thomas / Kyrou kind of deal next summer.

With Broberg I'm just not sure what he looks like longterm. At the moment he looks more like a 2nd pair type (which is still great). Another year will hopefully clarify what sort of role he is best suited for.

Really glad to have them both. Not worried in the slightest about the Blues letting them go.

[dhsux]

They have time to wait on the extensions right now.

I'm thinking DA has a list of off season options in preferred order with different costs associated so it makes sense to see where the dust settles before extending those 2 players.

But at the same time I do think he has a good idea what it's going to take to do it.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

They have time to wait on the extensions right now.

I'm thinking DA has a list of off season options in preferred order with different costs associated so it makes sense to see where the dust settles before extending those 2 players.

But at the same time I do think he has a good idea what it's going to take to do it.

Spot on. He needs to get thru the draft to see if any trades occur there. Then get thru a couple weeks of free agency to see who signs where and who may be available as a cap casualty. Then he’ll have a little more information and can start the process of assessing team needs and player values.

I’m confident both get done in due time. Priority will definitely be Broberg/Holloway and then everyone else. Remember that they will also have Bolduc, Toro and Kessel next season to name a few.