Quoting: MW6
I think you were pretty close with what you said above. Holtz + 3rd is ok to me. That 10th OA is really interesting to me though with the shortage of high end prospects in the organization so I would much rather do the full package.
What’s Holtz ceiling in your opinion? And how likely is it that he reaches it? And why would the Devils be ready to move him?
Yeah I figured so from Washington perspective.
Holtz ceiling is is probably 30-35 goal guy. Tyler Toffoli type I’d think, or like peak Jason Zucker.
He’s not a play driver, so he’ll have to be paired with guys who can put him in spots to succeed. But he can snipe, and he gets himself open incredibly well.
I think given the opportunity he’s pretty likely to reach it, at least the offensive side. Defensively he’ll never be elite, but if he can be a bit more cautious and patient and limit the dumb turnovers he certainly won’t be a liability imo. He’s always backchecking hard and his effort is always there.
In terms of why we’d move him, personally I think we’d regret moving him very quickly. But the thought process is he may need a new situation, whether that’s a new coach, or a new place.
Andrew Brunette was one of his biggest supporters, but Lindy Ruff and Travis Green gave him absolutely 0 leash. 1 bad turnover and he’d be sat for the game. Spent the second half of the year playing mostly with guys who had career highs in goals between 7 and 10.
As of last year Holtz was only available for Timo Meier 1 for 1. But Fitzgerald was critical of his turnovers during a press conference (rightfully so) and so the leash may be up with a team trying to contend that can’t give him top 6 opportunities to figure it out.
And for a cost controlled, quality young dman like fehevary, that’s a piece I’d personally be willing to move Holtz for if it is what it takes.