The long wait for NHL Hockey is coming to close. With the regular season just around the corner, it is time for players to return to their respective organizations to either get into top gear for the regular season with the big club or show the coaches how hard they worked in the off-season to win the fight to get an opening night roster spot. This is especially true for the New Jersey Devils.
They are in a very good situation entering training camp. They have a lot competition for roster spots thanks to their young roster and very deep prospect pool. With rookie camp opening up and the prospects challenge just on the horizon, this a very good time to analyze which prospects took the extra step this offseason to further their development. They might even increase their chances of making the opening night roster. Let’s highlight five New Jersey Devils prospects to have close eyes on during rookie camp and the prospects challenge.
1. Alexander Holtz
Starting off this list, we have the Swedish sniper and winger Alexander Holtz. Holtz is coming off of a great rookie season with the Utica Comets. His shooting abilities were on full display and also showed many flashes of his playmaking abilities. Despite this, he struggled in his nine games with New Jersey.
Over the offseason, Holtz was working harder than ever back in Sweden on his strength and edgework with fellow New Jersey winger Jesper Bratt and his brother Filip Bratt. Holtz is very determined to prove himself and be an impactful player with New Jersey. However, he as a lot to prove during this upcoming camp in order to do so. It will be very interesting to see if Holtz’s training finally pays off and shows it when he plays in the prospect challenge and training camp.