
Blues forward Jordan Kyrou celebrates with forward Dylan Holloway after scoring a goal in the first period of a game against the Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
About 45 minutes after Blues practice ended Tuesday, as morning shifted to afternoon, Dylan Holloway was finally getting off the ice at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Every other Blues player had departed the surface after two days without practice before Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh. But Holloway stayed out there, and it’s a common sight this season, Holloway’s first in St. Louis.
“Just trying to get as good as I can, working on little things,†Holloway said. “I’ve got a lot of holes in my game, so just trying to patch them up, I guess, trying to get better.â€
Holloway has enjoyed a career year during his first as a Blue after arriving last summer from Edmonton via offer sheet. In 65 games, Holloway has 20 goals and 27 assists, a 47-point output that has almost tripled his total production in Edmonton (18 points in 89 games). He’s carved out a role in the top six for the Blues and has become a fixture on the power play.
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This season, he’s one of 14 players in the NHL who are 23 or younger with at least 20 goals and 40 points. It’s a list that includes some of the most heralded young players in the league: Matt Boldy, Seth Jarvis, Marco Rossi, Matthew Knies and Kent Johnson.
Holloway has earned the reputation this season in St. Louis as someone who is always trying to get better. On multiple occasions, Blues coach Jim Montgomery has talked about Holloway’s habit of constantly being in the shooting room working on his shot or about his attentiveness during video sessions.
But the easiest way to see it is with his post-practice skill work.
“It’s the kind of culture you want,†Montgomery said. “I remember coming here as an assistant, we called it ‘Ryan O’Reilly Hockey School.’ It’s infectious. You get more people out there. You get more guys working on habits, whether they’re working on a certain part of their game, they’re always working on a skill that’s going to translate to helping in games: puck protection, tipping, shooting, areas you need to be in to score in.â€
Many times this season, Holloway has had a consistent partner in crime on the ice late after practice: Jordan Kyrou.
Kyrou and Holloway have formed two-thirds of the Blues’ second line around center Brayden Schenn, a trio that has, at times, been the team’s best offensive option. With that line on the ice this season, the Blues have outscored opponents 22-11 at five on five.
Kyrou said their skill sessions started around training camp and have built throughout the season.
“It depends on what we feel like we need to work on that day,†Kyrou said. “Sometimes, it’s shooting. Sometimes, it’s hands. Sometimes, we do edgework.â€
Holloway: “Hands, tight turns. My skating hasn’t felt great recently, so working on tight turns and stuff. Scoring goals. Literally everything, honestly. I feel like I’m in a good spot right now, but there’s a lot more that I could be doing. I could just be getting a lot better, so just trying to work on stuff.â€
Kyrou has turned in one of his most complete seasons of his career, on pace to finish with at least 30 goals for the third straight season and with a more well-rounded game away from the puck, too. Kyrou said the post-practice work has helped him “feel stronger in certain areas, even mentally stronger. You feel more confident in your abilities.â€
“Me and Rouzy put in a lot of extra work,†Holloway said. “I like his game a lot, he’s super-skilled. His skill is very fluid. His hands, his skating, his shot all kind of folds really nice together. I feel sometimes with me, I’m a bit choppy, so trying to get smoother. He obviously scores a lot of goals, so anything I can ask him about, he usually helps me out.â€
The Blues signed Holloway to a two-year contract worth $2.29 million annually, making him one of the biggest bargains in the NHL. Holloway is eligible for an extension July 1 as he enters the final year of his contract.
“His work ethic is unbelievable,†Kyrou said. “He loves the game, loves getting better, loves working on stuff. He’s always in the shooting room doing those things, or on the ice shooting pucks or doing edgework. He works his (expletive) off. It’s awesome to see.â€