Latest Update on Oilers Key RFAs Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway

The Edmonton Oilers still have a couple of very important bits of business to do this offseason. Two crucial restricted free agents remain unsigned, in rising young blueliner Philip Broberg, and speedy middle-six winger Dylan Holloway.

It was about a month ago that we heard that the team was engaged in talks with Broberg, but we're now into August, and still crickets. And after his strong showing to finish the playoffs for the Oilers, following a frustrating regular season for him in which he just wasn't able to crack the roster at the NHL level, one insider even suggested that a team could swoop in and steal the 23-year-old d-man with a big offer sheet.

A similar sentiment was being floated about Holloway, though it seemed far more unlikely.

Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, however, warned fans not to get their shorts in a knot. "I see these getting done at some point during August." Now that the calendar has flipped, we could start to see some progress perhaps?

One thing that's almost certain is that we won't be seeing any long-term deals for either player. In a report this week, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal suggested:

General consensus is restricted free-agent Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg will sign bridge deals in the $2.2-$2.3 million total range for two seasons.

Of course, the Oilers are going to have to get cap compliant first. They currently sit about $350,000 over the salary cap, per PuckPedia. A number of options have been suggested, including trading Cody Ceci and his $3.25 million cap hit, or Brett Kulak and his $2.75 million.

So while most teams are on holidays much of this month, the Oilers' front office will be kept busy. In the end, all the machinations should wind up with those short-term bridge deals for both Broberg and Holloway.