I’m never quite sure whether to post these “blurb” articles, but I’m going to err on the side of, “They might want to read it” in this instance. Anyway, 2020 NHL draft prospect Alexander Holtz scored a goal and added an assist for Djurgardens IF in a preseason tournament in the SHL, and Aftonbladet’s Anton Johansson noted that Red Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson was in attendance.
Andersson was asked about Holtz’s exploits, and here’s what he had to say (roughly translated, anyway) about NHL Central Scouting’s second-best-ranked European skater:
Alexander Holtz is expected to go high in the NHL draft to be held in October. Detroit’s longtime scout Hakan Andersson was also in attendance at the Scaniarinken to study the talents on the ice.
And he’s impressed by Holtz.
“In my world, he’s probably a top-ten player (in the draft),” he says in Sportbladet’s studio.
But Andersson also came with some constructive criticism of Holtz’s goal, wherein the 18-year-old chose to receive the puck instead of shooting right away.
“In the NHL, the chance is closed when you don’t shoot right away,” he says. “The goalies are faster and the defensemen cover shots better, so if he doesn’t shoot immediately, that chance disappears. But he will learn that, he’s so smart.”
