Hockey Duckie
Registered User
If you've seen a plethora of videos of Holtz scoring goals, then you'd see he has scored in a variety of ways. If you watched the video scouting review of Holtz by Draft Dynasty, then you'd hear him say how Holtz is a better scorer because he can score stationary or moving. He just likes to score and he has the confidence to do it. I'm focused on a player who is a known finisher because we currently have a team that is lacking finishers, but do have some playmakers. I hope you understand that distinction.
Holtz is given a very bad report as a "sniper-only" prospect. Why? If you look at his stats, he does have a lot of assists to his goal scoring. Against men, he had 7 assists to his 9 goals. He has some playmaking skills, which makes him more than a one-trick-pony prospect. Also, DD stated he's well rounded in skating.
But if you watched DD's video review and cross it over with Holtz' improved ranking on some scouting media (Central Scouting from 4th to 2nd; Elite Prospects from 9th to 6th), then you have to wonder why isn't Holtz getting more love? When DD compared the play of Holtz with Raymond, he said Raymond looked very good early in the 2019-20 season. When both moved onto the SHL from juniors, Holtz adapted and Raymond did not. A big reason why Holtz adapted is probably due to high motor, which many publications have denoted, including DD.
The fact Holtz adapted to the men's game where Raymond struggled is what intrigued me. Then add in the fact that Holtz finished 5th in goal scoring on his team in only 35 games where the highest games played above him was 52 games. He's doing this starting the season as a 17-year old and those who scored equal or more than him are almost a decade or more older than Holtz (26 to 33 years of age). The likeliness of success at the NHL level is higher, IMO, with Holtz, despite Raymond possessing the uber natural gifted talent at almost everything.
DD sums up Holtz best with this quote (I'm paraphrasing), "because of his high motor skills, Holtz won't have as many bad games". This is in reference to taking shifts off as a goal scorer and Holtz doesn't, according to DD in watching him in 10 games.
I wished more people would just watch DD's videos than project and guess what I'm trying to share. DD changed my mind from wanting RHD Drysdale to Holtz. DD also change my enthusiasm for D Grans, sadly. Of course, I did read up on a lot of other prospects, but Holtz proves at every level that he can score goals, that he can finish. That's a great track record and didn't come out of nowhere. Yet, it's the whole ensemble that Holtz brings to the table as described by DD is why I like him more than others as Holtz is doing this against men. Although it isn't NHL level, it's a big step above junior level. Holtz can reach is max potential and sooner because he did adapt against men. Why doesn't this resonate more, I don't know?
And with a recent check-in on his specific HF board, he's taller and bigger during the pre-season games. There's two video tweets of Holtz scoring a goal and getting a first assist. Seems like he's still progressing.
Remember, the Duck scouts like players who turn it on in the 2nd half of their draft season and Holtz shoes right in. If Raymond adapted like Holtz adapted to the SHL, then I think it's a consensus that Raymond goes 4th overall or higher. Yet, Raymond did not. That doesn't scare you a bit?
