Dylan Holloway recently revealed that the Edmonton Oilers were aware of the ST Louis Blues' plans to offer him and Philip Broberg contracts before the official <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/oilers-face-tough-goodbye-after-they-do-not-match-holloway-and-broberg-offer-sheets' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>offer sheets</a> were made. He described the week of waiting for Edmonton's response as tough, acknowledging that some Oilers fans were upset with him. <q> We knew about the offer sheet before we had any negotiations with Edmonton, which was kind of strange. We were trying to work out a deal and weren't asking for anything outrageous. We were upfront with Edmonton about the potential offer sheet, and it felt like there was no choice but to sign it. </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/akaRCN/status/1830241407577272408'> </a></blockquote></div> It's clear that Holloway wanted to stay in Edmonton but was also looking for a better deal. His agent's use of the offer sheet threat was a strategic move to get both a better contract and stay with the Oilers. The forward noted that his teammates understood his decision. <q> Everybody gets it. It's all part of the business side of hockey. Fans might not fully understand, but it's a business with a salary cap, and sometimes things don't work out as hoped. You have to look after yourself first. </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/nhlnetwork/status/1826242856430026923'> </a></blockquote></div> With Edmonton dealing with a tight salary cap, it's no surprise that negotiations were tough. GM Stan Bowman had to navigate the cap constraints carefully, which likely meant hard bargaining with RFAs like Holloway, who went for $2.3 million and and Broberg, who left for an overpay of $4.5 million. They opted for the compensation picks instead, receiving a second round pick for Broberg and a third for Holloway. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/edmontonoilers/status/1825889303844557304'> </a></blockquote></div> Holloway's experience might have felt personal, but it's part of the larger picture of managing a team under tight financial constraints. Hockey is a business too. Source: Edmonton Journal <a href='https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/it-was-weird-the-way-they-handled-it-dylan-holloway-criticizes-edmonton-oilers-negotiating' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>It was weird the way they handled it: Dylan Holloway criticizes Edmonton Oilers negotiating tactics. Hmm</a>