Devils select Alexander Holtz

  The New Jersey Devils with the first of their three first-rounders in the 2020 NHL draft selected Swedish right-winger Alexander Holtz with the seventh selection of the first round.

At 18, the six-foot even, 185 pound Holtz was regarded by many as the best pure goal scorer in the draft, and playing in the Swedish Hockey League (Sweden's top league) against adult players, Holtz shouldn't be intimidated by the NHL.

Holtz finished the 2019-20 season with nine goals and seven assists in thirty-five games for Djurgardens and has received raves for his quick and accurate shot.

Holtz seems to be a fit at the Devils' greatest position of need as New Jersey sees Holtz as an eventual first-line winger.

The Devils hadn't selected a wing in the first round since Mattias Tedenby in 2008 and hadn't selected a right-wing going back to 2005 with the addition of Nicklas Bergfors.

Holtz was one of three players that draft observers had connected to New Jersey with the other two players going shortly after Holtz with centers Marco Rossi going ninth overall to Minnesota and Cole Perfetti taken at tenth to Winnipeg.

I never claim to be as knowledgable about the NHL draft as I am with the NFL and NBA drafts, but Holtz seems to be the Devils first step in surrounding Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier with shooters to allow their young centers to have players that can finish around them.

The Devils lack that type of player and Holtz is a good addition with the type of shot that playing with Jack Hughes could be a forty goal player eventually.

I liked what I've seen of both Rossi and Perfetti, but this time with three pretty equal players, the position need, combined with the ability to bring more out of what you consider to be your franchise foundation player in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, I am understanding of how the Devils are thinking here under new general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Corey Pronman, who covers the NHL Draft for the Athletic writes this report on Holtz, and All About the Jersey offers their thoughts here.

The Devils own the 18th and 20th picks in the round from Arizona and Vancouver and I'll be back later or tomorrow with the picks in those slots.