The New Jersey Devils have announced they have signed 2020 first-round draft pick Alexander Holtz to a three-year entry-level deal. The contract carries a salary cap hit of $925,000.
#NEWS: We have signed Alexander Holtz to a three-year, entry level contract.
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Alexander Holtz Signs Entry-Level Contract
The Devils continue to make news this week. After trading away Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to the New York Islanders, the team has signed the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft to his first professional contract. Holtz just wrapped up his season with Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). General manager Tom Fitzgerald says he wanted to get the young forward over to New Jersey. However, that will be contingent on him playing for Sweden at the IIHF World Championships. In 40 regular-season games, Holtz recorded 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists). In three playoff games, Holtz recorded four points (two goals and two assists), all coming in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series.
Holtz has had a stellar international career for Sweden as well. He was a part of the dynamic duo known as the terror twins with Lucas Raymond for Sweden’s World Junior team. Even though Sweden could not cross the finish line, he did win a bronze medal at the 2020 World Juniors. In 12 games on that stage, Holtz recorded eight points (four goals and four assists).
What The Devils Can Expect
As Ben Kerr wrote prior to the 2020 NHL Draft, Holtz is a pure goal scorer. He has an outstanding wrist shot and lightning-quick release. He also has an excellent slap shot and one-timer. Holtz even has a good backhand. He has the quick hands to change the angle of his release before firing the puck, fooling goaltenders. He can also get to the front of the net, scoring goals with his quick hands and excellent hand-eye coordination to get tips and bang in rebounds. Holtz has all the tools necessary to score goals at the NHL level. Holtz also makes smart plays with and without the puck. While he has a shoot-first mentality, he also has the vision and passing skills to find open teammates and create scoring chances. He is able to control the puck down low and create space for those teammates to get open.
The Devils are hoping Holtz can grow with the Devils’ young players and be the goal scorer this team has desperately needed for the past decade. Holtz can be put with either Nico Hischier or Jack Huges and make that line immediately better.
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