Last season wasn't too kind to Alexander Holtz. The Vegas Golden Knights winger was unfortunate after a successful 2023-24 campaign with the New Jersey Devils, scoring four goals and eight assists. Suffering a massive drop-off from 16 goals and 12 assists the year prior can do some damage to a man.
It's akin to producing a blockbuster film and the sequel's an absolute dud. Think of The Joker and its sequel, Folie A Deux. Sometimes, it makes you wonder if the film studio made it bad on purpose. Perhaps it was a small mouse that mucked up the works...
But in all seriousness, that's where Holtz currently stands in his NHL career. He had a solid 2023-24 season that petered out in his sequel. Suddenly, he was operating at a net loss and people passed off his franchise as dead.
No, we're not talking about the Golden Knights here. They're still alive and kickin'. Think about if Holtz had a movie franchise that suddenly flopped.
So, let's turn that flop into a box-office smash. Let's create a roadmap for Alexander Holtz to thrive in 2025-26 and make him a stellar player. That way, he can get back in Bruce Cassidy's good graces and sustain a roster spot for years to come!
How can Alexander Holtz have a stellar 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights?
Let's be 100% honest. Most of Holtz's shooting metrics deflated across the board compared to his 2024-25 season. He suffered a catastrophic drop-off that came from numerous factors. There were the obvious numbers, including goals (16 to four) and assists (12 to eight). But it goes beyond that. You're also looking at advanced statistics that show an extreme drop-off (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck).
Season | Shooting % | Shooting % On Unblocked Shots | Shooting % On Unblocked Shots Above Expected | High Danger xGoals | On-Ice Shot Attempt (Corsi%) | Flurry Adjusted xGoals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024-25 | 5.8% | 3.6% | -2.8% | 3.07 | 49% | 7.4 |
2023-24 | 13.1% | 8.9% | 2.2% | 4.87 | 52% | 12.2 |
Do you notice a trend? These statistics tell a story of a need to create better shots. Granted, some instances have seen the puck bounce (or roll?) the other team's way. However, other instances are in his control, whether in one-on-one situations or functioning normally in the offensive zone.
Of course, that also coincides with developing more confidence. What I've noticed with Holtz when he practiced with the Golden Knights is that he had excellent offensive awareness and handling. The Swedish forward functioned as a typical NHL winger, making the right plays at times.
However, there were other times when he'd make simple mistakes. Sometimes, that'd include minute turnovers and errant passes, which would've caused odd-man rushes the other way. This is an easy fix that comes with more time at the NHL level, where he understands the game at a faster pace. Is he running out of chances to right the ship? Sure. However, a good Training Camp and preseason session showed what he could do if given the opportunity.
Other fixes that Holtz can make to his game for the Golden Knights
Looking at his defensive game, he tends to struggle in one-on-one situations. Often, he'll let the opposing attacker slip past him and enter the offensive zone. Bruce Cassidy would lose his mind if he saw somebody get beaten in such a scenario.
That also coincides with back-checking better. He tends to not catch his opponent coming in, which leaves them to do a few things. That includes cutting towards the net and finding the open man opposite Holtz. Some have said that the Swedish forward lacks urgency in his game, which could cause trouble defensively. Golden Knights fans know how Cassidy feels about that, too.
Overall, Holtz has another lease on life after a tumultuous year. He's trending towards the Opening Night roster, where he'll step in when needed. Of course, this is another chance to reclaim his spot on the team, especially since he knows his leash is short.