In an unexpected move, St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong has stirred up the NHL drama by signing two restricted free agents from the Edmonton Oilers, defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway. This bold maneuver through offer sheets has caused some controversy and debate among hockey enthusiasts.

For those unfamiliar with offer sheets, it is a contractual offer sent by one NHL team to a restricted free agent from another team. These offer sheets allow the player's current team to either match the offer or receive compensation in the form of draft picks based on the annual value of the offer. Typically, only younger players qualify as restricted free agents, as their rights are exclusively owned by their current club.

Broberg and Holloway both accepted the offer sheets put forward by the Blues, leaving the Oilers with the choice to match or let them go. Ultimately, Edmonton decided not to match the offers, allowing the players to officially become part of the St. Louis organization.

Some critics argue that Armstrong has violated an unwritten code among NHL general managers, which discourages them from interfering with each other's rosters. Offer sheets have the potential to disrupt a team's dynamics by either forcing them to overpay for a player or losing them altogether. However, Armstrong vehemently disagrees with the notion of a code when it comes to offer sheets.

Responding to the criticism, Armstrong stated, "I've read what people are writing - if there is a GM code not to do offer sheets, nobody emailed it to me. This is a tool that I think everyone uses, and should use." He reaffirmed his belief that the use of offer sheets is a legitimate strategy to enhance a team's roster.

Armstrong's unapologetic stance on offer sheets extends to his own team. When asked about the perception that he would avoid using offer sheets against former Oilers GM Kenny Holland, he clarified, "That's the furthest thing from the truth. Honestly, I'd do it to my mother if she was managing the Oilers."

This bold move by Armstrong has sparked further debate on whether general managers should embrace every possible tool to improve their respective teams. Critics argue that offer sheets can disrupt team dynamics and foster hostility among executives, while proponents maintain that utilizing all available strategies is necessary for success.

As Broberg and Holloway don the St. Louis Blues jersey, all eyes are now on the upcoming offseason to see if other NHL teams will follow suit and engage in further offer sheet drama. Only time will tell if this summer's NHL landscape will see more surprises in player acquisitions through this intriguing contractual method.