Alexander Holtz is finally flourishing in the NHL

The Devils' second-year forward is displaying the skill and confidence that made him such a high draft pick.

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey with our writers and subscribers.

---

By Neil Villapiano (@TheNVPShow)

Since the Devils drafted Alexander Holtz with the 7th overall pick in the 2020 draft, the expectation was that he would be an immediate offensive force in New Jersey’s lineup.

That unfortunately was not the case early on. He played a combined 28 games over his first two years of action, tallying just three goals and five points.

After last season, Devils brass even warned Holtz that the following year was a make-it or break-it campaign.

Through the first 26 games of the 2023-24 season, the Swedish winger has not only survived but thrived. He has already set career highs in goals (8), assists (4) and points (12).

Teammates, coaches, media, and fans have all been pleasantly surprised by the 21-year-old’s success and how he finally looks comfortable out there each game.

One thing that Holtz was criticized for early on was his inability to be reliable on both ends of the ice. So far this year, he certainly took that to heart and wanted to improve.

You can tell that he wants to go after the puck no matter where it is and have his defense turn into offense, which Lindy Ruff has praised him for. Other than his counting stats, his underlying numbers also show major progression.

According to NaturalStatTrick.com, Holtz’ GF% was 33.33 and his xGF% was at 46.73 in 2022-23. Through nearly 30 games, the winger has dramatically increased his GF% to 46.43 and xGF% to 48.26.

Simply put, this is a more aggressive and confident Holtz we are seeing. He’s shooting a ton and it’s finally paying off. As a byproduct of his strong play, he is also starting to get more special teams time. That will only help him more.

Even though he usually starts and plays on the 3rd line, he is getting more opportunities to play with the big-time star forwards on this team. It’s happened many times this year.

Just look at the Devils’ last game, a 4-1 loss this past Sunday to the Oilers. In need of a spark, Holtz played the majority of the 3rd period on a line with Jack Hughes and Tyler Toffoli.

Despite them not scoring, the three created quite a few chances that could have translated to goals. It shows that Ruff has confidence in the young forward that he can be relied on to step into any situation and generate success.

There is still more than ⅔ of the season left to go. A lot can change between now and April. However, it should be said that Holtz is finally flourishing in the NHL and that it is a pleasant sight to see.

If he can keep this up, he will certainly remain a mainstay in the Devils’ lineup for seasons to come.

---