The New Jersey Devils selected Alex Holtz 7th overall in the 2020 NHL draft and fans still have no idea where his place is on this team.
Holtz is 21 years old and has bounced between Utica in the AHL and the Devils. In 28 NHL games, he only has three goals and three assists for six points. However, he hasn’t been given a lot of run in New Jersey to find his game. He was drafted to be a top sniper and the Devils’ top-6 is full for the year, barring injury.
In Utica, in 66 games, he has 32 goals and 30 assists for 62 points. His AHL numbers show his upside as an impact player on North American ice. He has the potential to be a strong presence for years to come in this lineup full of playmakers.
However, the Devils don’t have room in their top-6. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer and Tyler Toffoli are better players and have NHL track records. They’re also in a contention window and they need impact players who can perform at that level. They don’t owe it to Holtz when they might not be able to afford the growing pains. He was drafted high and was part of the plan before. That doesn’t mean he absolutely has to be part of the plan now.
Here are the two logical things they can do with Holtz.
One thing the Devils can do is put Holtz on the wing of Erik Haula and Ondrej Palat. Those players aren’t game-changers but they’re strong veterans who can handle themselves. That line is also offensively gifted and can feed into Holtz’s strength as a shooter. It would give him a much-needed role on this team that hasn’t found one for him.
If he’s not gonna play in the NHL, it doesn’t make sense to keep him in Utica. When a big trade opportunity arises, Holtz should be on the block if he’s not playing. However, this should only be for a big-impact player. It’s also a win for him as he’d finally go to a team that would give him an NHL role.
The Devils drafted Alex Holtz to be an impact goal scorer and grow alongside their stars. They’ve hit a crossroads with his development and their vision of the team. They can do one of the two things listed here if they’re to manage him properly. If not, he’s just going to ferment in the AHL and be blocked by talented forwards.
Stay tuned for more New Jersey Devils and NHL content, including trades, signings, and various updates.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Cameron!
“From Our Haus to Yours”
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
