Santa’s 10 Reindeer Draft Prospects – Day 7 – Alexander Holtz
By Craig Jones
3 years agoThe moment the New York Rangers won the number one pick in this year’s draft, Wings’ fans were jolted from their peaceful Lafrenière-dream. It was like a dream you have the night before Christmas: eagerly looking forward to waking up, you constantly check the clock, anticipating Santa gifting you the best player in the draft. A single jet-stream shooting a lottery ball up in the air ended that dream. But that dream doesn’t have to end. This draft is deep – there’s no real consensus on draft order and the Wings have several holes to fill.
Position- Right wing
Team – Djurgardens IF
Age – 18
Height – 5’11”
Weight – 181 lbs
Nation – Sweden
Shoots – Right
Team – Djurgardens IF
Age – 18
Height – 5’11”
Weight – 181 lbs
Nation – Sweden
Shoots – Right
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer….and Vixen? Vixen is the trickster in the Reindeer ranks, constantly taking chances without fear of the consequences. The Vixen delivers the surprising shot that catches a goalie off-guard and throws a cross-ice pass that nobody else would do. These are the intangibles Vixen brings to the table and, reindeer or not, the team needs a Vixen to be successful. This draft year’s Vixen is Alexander Holtz. This Swedish sniper can really shoot: quick-releases, one-timers, entering the zone, you name it, Holtz can shoot it. Take a second and imagine a sniper skating down the wing with Dylan Larkin loading him up to fire one past a Maple Leafs goalie. Lordy, lordy he has the potential to score forty. That may be a tad ambitious but experts believe in Holtz’s offensive potential and the Wings should too.
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button –
“Alexander Holtz reminds me a lot of Filip Forsberg, I like his hunger and versatility on the offensive end.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
On the surface, the Forsberg comparison is superficial, but in Nashville Forsberg is a player that is never a ghost on the ice and involved every game. The Wings need a player who will shoot at any given moment, causing chaos for defenders. There are concerns regarding Holtz’s defensive play and his offensive success in the Swedish league should be viewed with caution, however Holtz has been playing against men since he was in his early teens. Yzerman may have higher ranked forwards to choose from come draft day, but landing Holtz and pairing him with good passers could make the kind of combo that burns-out the goal light at Little Caesars Arena.
On the surface, the Forsberg comparison is superficial, but in Nashville Forsberg is a player that is never a ghost on the ice and involved every game. The Wings need a player who will shoot at any given moment, causing chaos for defenders. There are concerns regarding Holtz’s defensive play and his offensive success in the Swedish league should be viewed with caution, however Holtz has been playing against men since he was in his early teens. Yzerman may have higher ranked forwards to choose from come draft day, but landing Holtz and pairing him with good passers could make the kind of combo that burns-out the goal light at Little Caesars Arena.
Twitter: @Jonesinthezone
Recent articles from Craig Jones
