Alexander Holtz didn’t get to watch many Devils games live while playing in Sweden this season. Between the time difference and his own schedule, opportunities were sparse.
During his seven-day quarantine in New Jersey, Holtz doesn’t plan on doing much else.
Holtz is currently sequestered at a hotel, serving his mandated one-week travel quarantine after signing his entry level contract with the Devils on Monday. Holtz arrived in the United States on Saturday, so he’ll be eligible to skate with the Binghamton Devils as early as Saturday, April 24.
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The seventh overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft will play out the season in the AHL, getting a quick taste of North American hockey before starting his preparations to make a push for the NHL roster next season, when his contract officially starts.
“It means a lot. Of course it’s smaller ice here, so I think that helps my game more,” Holtz said. “Because I’m a shooter, and you’re getting more shooting spots here on the smaller ice. It’s a nice opportunity I get to play some games here before moving on to next season.”
Holtz finished his season in Sweden with seven goals and 18 points in 40 games, with the majority of that production coming early in the season. He didn’t see the ice as much once the calendar flipped to 2021, but he did post two goals and two assists in three playoff games before his team, Djurgardens IF, was eliminated.
When the Devils selected Holtz last October, he was touted as one of the best shooters in the draft class. On top of working on his already excellent shot, he used his post-draft season to improve on other areas addressed by the Devils.
“I think I’ve developed a lot this year. I had a good year before World Juniors. I played a lot with my team,” Holtz said. “Then when I got back, I didn’t play that much, but I think I developed a lot. I’m feeling stronger, I’m feeling faster and so on. I think my shot is even better, so maybe I haven’t been able to show that, but I think I think I developed a lot, and I’m feeling that I’m a much better player right now.”
While Holtz won’t touch the NHL ice in the final three weeks of the Devils’ season, he will get the chance to make an early impression on head coach Lindy Ruff. Since Binghamton has played all of its home games in Newark this season, Ruff has attended every one where the NHL schedule didn’t conflict.
Ruff will now get an early glimpse at what Holtz can bring at a new level of hockey.
“It’s a great stepping stone to the NHL, to play in a league that’s highly competitive and get playing time here in North America,” Ruff said. “Just get a feel for the type of game that we play.”
Binghamton’s season is scheduled to end on May 16, and at most, Holtz could get 11 games before heading into the offseason. His main priority is get acclimated with how the Devils run things across the organization.
“It was a time ago since we went out in the playoffs in Sweden,” Holtz said. “So going back on ice, meeting all the staff, meeting the guys of course. It will be a lot of fun when I get out of (quarantine).”
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