When the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Akira Schmid and Alexander Holtz from the New Jersey Devils, the trade was initially seen as a win-win. The Golden Knights were getting younger at the wing position, moving past an aging, small Jonathan Marchessault. Plus, they got a goaltender that would fit into Bruce Cassidy's airtight system.
While Schmid (3.34 GAA, .895 save percentage in the AHL) is still undergoing growing pains with the Henderson Silver Knights, those thoughts of a win-win trade are suddenly gone. Holtz only has three goals and seven assists this season. He's been relegated to the fourth line in the process, on the cusp of being sent to an eternal hell in Henderson.
Perhaps it's the Swedish forward being unlucky. Maybe he's not taking enough shots on goal to make a difference. Whatever the case, the prognosis doesn't look good as Holtz continues to see his stock plummet, firing up the trade rumors (hello, Alex Tuch!). What shall Cassidy do to rectify this problem?
Is there a quick fix to the winger's game? What can he do to ensure he salvages his season with the Golden Knights and impacts the team positively down the road? Time is running out on Holtz to break through, given that the Golden Knights are halfway through 2024-25.
Fixing Alexander Holtz
First, Alexander Holtz has seen a dip in his Corsi (47%) and Fenwick (48%). Last season with the New Jersey Devils, he had a Corsi of 52% and a Fenwick of 50%. Taking quality shots will help the 22-year-old turn his game around, making him a formidable threat. In turn, it'll make the lower lines even more potent, giving them another excellent goal-scorer.
Of course, that also starts with taking more shots in general. Sometimes, it takes being more aggressive as a winger to be a better goal-scorer. Holtz has 51 shots this season, good for a shooting percentage of 5.9. If he breaks through for more opportunities and acts as a goal-scorer, he should turn his game around.
That will also help him in high-danger chances, where he has 3.07 expected goals in this section. Last season, he had 4.87 high-danger expected goals, where he got involved in the Devils offense more. That goes back to shooting the puck, whether he's in the slot or at the point.
It's not to say he's on a bad team, either. He's also on the fourth-highest scoring team in the NHL (3.54 goals per game), where players like Brett Howden (15 goals) and Keegan Kolesar (nine goals) have carried the play. Therefore, Holtz should take the first step and get himself involved.
Time is running out for the 22-year-old to right the ship with the Golden Knights. Bruce Cassidy is known for getting the most out of his players, even if it's not the most popular method. Still, it's on Holtz to turn things around, regardless of how snakebitten he's been in 2024-25. Otherwise, he'll not be getting back to Las Vegas anytime soon.