Alexander Holtz didn't have the most memorable 2024-25 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights. He scored four goals and eight assists last season, which was a significant dropoff from his stellar 2023-24 campaign. Here, he scored 16 goals and 12 assists with the New Jersey Devils before coming to Vegas with Akira Schmid for Paul Cotter.
The dropoff was so severe that he was demoted to the Henderson Silver Knights. Fortunately, he found solace with the AHL club, scoring seven goals and six assists in 16 games.
That's what made Friday's game much more interesting. Fans noticed a peculiar lettering on Holtz's jersey during a preseason game against the San Jose Sharks.
Alexander Holtz is wearing an ‘A’
— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) September 27, 2025
Yes, you read that right. Holtz wore an "A" in Friday's 2-1 victory over the Sharks. One could see it as a confidence boost of sorts, helping him to get back at the NHL level. The 23-year-old hasn't put everything together during his NHL tenure.
So, why not slap him with the ol' "assistant captain" designation? In this situation, it would only be temporary. You need to build up a lagging prospect to salvage any shot of him becoming a viable NHL player. It could be the perfect kick in the rear for a youngster looking to get back to the professional level.
Alexander Holtz is running out of NHL chances
When the Golden Knights acquired Holtz from the Devils alongside Schmid, the vibes were immaculate. The young winger was coming off a promising 2023-24 campaign with New Jersey, showing all sorts of offensive potential in the world. Golden Knights fans like myself were hyped to see what he could do.
That's when the waiting game happened. Fans waited patiently for him to score in bunches. He'd get the scoring opportunities, only for the puck to simply not go in.
Was there a problem with him finishing? Maybe. But that wasn't the only issue.
The former first-round pick had issues back-checking and would routinely let attackers slip past him. He was a liability defensively, which didn't make matters easy for an absent offense. That's why he was demoted to the Silver Knights during last season.
Can the former lower-line winger get back in Bruce Cassidy's good graces? That remains to be seen. Currently, he's on a PTO with the team and is looking to bet on himself. Perhaps getting an "A" for a game means he'll pass the preseason with flying colors. Getting back to the top starts with baby steps, you know.