With the Seventh Pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the New Jersey Devils Have Selected Alexander Holtz From Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Hockey League.
About Alexander Holtz
It was pretty obvious that Alexander Holtz was going to go in the top 10 in the draft. Although the top players like Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield were always considered top of the class, Holtz is not far behind.
Standing at 6-foot-0 and weighing 183 pounds, Holtz can handle his own on the ice. Although he probably won’t be in the NHL next season, he has the chance to become a special player down the line.
THW Prospect Profile Excerpt
“Holtz is an exceptional talent with a bright future in the NHL. From his speed, elite hockey sense, quick hands, and NHL-ready shot, he has all the things you want in a top-line winger. He also has the vision to create plays for his teammates as well. Basically, he’s the complete package, with very little weaknesses to his game. He has the potential to be a top-five pick and will be a top-10 pick for sure.
After the WJC, he went back to the Swedish Hockey League’s (SweHL) Djurgardens IF where he has nine goals and 16 points in 35 games as of this writing. That puts him 11th in team scoring, which is pretty impressive for a 17-year-old in a men’s league with many players almost ten years older than him.
Holtz is probably one of the most lethal goal scorers in this draft. He has all the tools to become a top-line winger in the NHL. His elite shot and vision will make him a threat almost immediately
Whichever team has the good fortune of selecting in the top-10 will be very happy with Holtz as he has the potential to step into an NHL lineup right away. Once his acceleration catches up to his shot and dynamic playmaking abilities, he will be a handful for opposition defenders. His work ethic and battle level alone could propel him to greatness.”
Full player profile can be found here
How This Affects the Devils’ Plans
The Devils make a great selection with their first of three picks on the night. They already have really solid players in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Ty Smith, so adding a guy like Holtz will only make the team better.
Related: THW Draft Guide
In Holtz, the Devils get a player who will eventually be able to play on the top power-play unit. He is able to get the puck off in a hurry and with someone like Hughes feeding him the puck, the league will soon take notice. The Devils should be really excited to be able to welcome him to the organization and fans will be mentioning his name for a long time to come.