These seven points from Broberg would be good for second to the Oilers and are far ahead of struggling defenseman Evan Bouchard, who has just two points in seven games after scoring 82 last season. Holloway’s three goals would put the team in a tie for the lead against Edmonton.

Does the success of the Blues mean that other offers could arrive? It’s possible.

St. Louis overpaid for Broberg, giving him an average annual value of $4.58 million after just 81 career games and just 12 regular season games played in 2023-24.

To add Broberg, a former eighth overall pick with plenty of upside, the Blues needed to make sure Edmonton wouldn’t match the offer. In recent years, risky contracts awarded to RFAs have increased. New Jersey Devils Star Jack Hughesfirst overall pick in 2019, signed an eight-year contract extension worth $64 million in 2021 after just two seasons in which he scored at a pace of 0.44 points per game.

As RFA, Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl signed an eight-year contract worth $68 million with Edmonton in the summer of 2017. After completing his third NHL season, Draisaitl had recently set a career high with 77 points after scoring 51 in 72 games the previous season.

Both of these gambles worked out incredibly well for each team, as Hughes has since scored 238 points in 199 games. Meanwhile, Draisaitl has since won an Art Ross, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award and is one of the NHL’s top scorers.

While St. Louis sees itself rewarded for its gamble, other teams may soon follow suit, just as many teams have done by guaranteeing their promising young players long-term contracts.

The salary cap should increase to approximately $92.5 million next seasonthere is reason to believe that other teams could also make a risky bid at tenders such as Bouchard, Matthew Knies from Toronto or Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders.

If Broberg and Holloway continue to find success in St. Louis, the Blues’ shrewd maneuvers in the RFA system will likely have their imitators.