Vegas Golden Knights need to roll the dice and trade up for stud forward

If you draft well then you can really set your franchise up for long-term success, and that’s why the Vegas Golden Knights should consider trading up for stud forward Alexander Holtz at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

In need of replenishing their farm system with a real blue chip talent, the Vegas Golden Knights could look to take full advantage of the fact that the 2020 Draft is rich with high-end offensive talent.

While phenom wing Alexis Lafreniere is a lock to go No. 1 overall and elite center Quinton Byfield should follow with the No. 2 overall pick, there is a plethora of exciting studs that could provide any team with a potent offensive punch.

Chief among the offensive weapons with a high ceiling is Swedish starlet Alexander Holtz, who is currently ranked ninth overall by HockeyProspect.com in their January rankings and sixth by EliteProspects.com in their April rankings.

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Projected to fall off the board early, Holtz will have a long list of admirers at the Draft and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s gone within the first five picks.

As a result, the Golden Knights will need to construct a hefty package in order to move up from the No. 24 overall pick in order to put themselves in position to take a franchise talent in Holtz.

It would be completely worth it.

An elite talent and one of the purest goalscorers that will be available in the Draft, Holtz boasts all of the tools needed to morph into a top-line winger in the NHL.

And an incredibly productive one at that.

He has an elite shot and release in his arsenal which will be a potent weapon in the NHL, while the right wing also possesses outstanding skating ability, a high hockey IQ, an admirable compete level and sublime vision.

Both a pure goalscorer and a top-level playmaker, Holtz is primed to make an instant impact in the NHL as a top-six forward and you could compare him to fellow countryman Daniel Sedin in that he has all the talent needed to be able to put up monster production year in and year out.

Also boasting a sturdy 6’0″ frame and weighing in at 183 lbs, Holtz is built to withstand big hits and he’ll be able to handle the physical nature of the NHL.

His compete level and willingness to battle with and without the puck makes him a dream for NHL General Managers, while he has the ability to create space for himself before getting off his elite-level shot.

Not only that but Holtz’s body of work in the SHL with Djurgardens IF is impressive having recorded 16 points (six goals, seven assists) in 35 games this year, while he excelled for Sweden at the World Junior U20 Championships with three goals and two assists for five points in seven games.

The fact that Holtz was 11th in team scoring for Djurgardens in a men’s league is hugely impressive, and it should tell you that he’s equipped both physically and mentally to be able to make the leap to the National Hockey League.

The Golden Knights are blessed with an abundance of elite wings, including Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, while the likes of Jack Dugan and Pavel Dorofeyev are high-end talents that could become future successes in the NHL.

However, there is no doubt that Holtz is the complete package and he’s got all the intangibles needed to become a franchise winger for one lucky NHL team.

Able to mesh together a perfect mix of speed, skill, vision and an elite shot, Holtz also has great awareness and he’s a pure sniper while being able to create a boatload of high-danger chances for his line mates.

His excellent wrist shot and lightning-quick release will serve Holtz incredibly well in the National Hockey League, while he also has the hand-eye coordination needed to get to the front of the net for redirections and tip-ins.

Granted, he does need to work on his acceleration and his defensive awareness but, overall, Holtz is an elite talent that could morph into a deadly goalscorer in the NHL.

As a result, if the Vegas Golden Knights are set on taking a high-end offensive talent in the 2020 NHL Draft, then they should seriously consider doing everything within their power to trade up and take a potential franchise winger in Alexander Holtz.

It is a gamble but one that could pay off handsomely.