I am not stat watching, but game watching. And to me Holtz doesn't not look like a play that can succeed at the NHL level. For many reasons.
At the moment in full agreement. However, as a kid who wouldn't even have been able to play pro hockey if he was a Canadian Jr, it's way too soon to say "he doesn't look like a player that can succeed at the NHL level." As a 19-yr-old that would be correct.
I believe, and have said such, he should spend next season in the AHL working on those "For many reasons" you didn't list, but are there. Marty said they are at a point where they don't need to rush players and putting him into the every day lineup in NJ would be doing just that. Putting him on the roster and carrying him as 13/14 forward would be even worse. The kid has to play and be motivated to do the things he has pointed out to him that he does not do and that which has to stop doing. There is too much raw talent showing there to allow him to become only half developed before going back to Europe.
Not every NHL 1st rounder comes into his own at the drop of the puck in the NHL on day 1 of his pro career. At his age most either go back to Jrs or play another season, and maybe 2, back in their home country. The Canadian Jr then goes to the AHL his 1st pro season. Only the truly super gifted, blue chip, can't miss guys go straight to the NHL and many of them struggle for a couple of seasons as well a la Alexis Lafreniere.
Patience has to be shown with Holtz. It's a good thing HF posters don't run the team. They are way too presumptuous in their promoting players to the NHL as well as declaring others as busts and urging their deportation.
