I don't see any problem with general sentiment. Its not a surprise like no one never said that he has some issues with him game. His floor wasn't high from the beginning. And still overall ranking from different people is from three to six. Its no where underrating. Its just worries about his forechecking, 200 foot game without the puck. I believe he is nhler, he needs time, patience, right roster spot. Less pressure.I’m not talking about in the prospect poll, I voted for Casey over him anyway. Just the general sentiment. I get that he hasn’t put it all together yet, but it’s also way harder to crack the lineup on one of the best teams in the league vs the shit we were most of the last decade.
I've been on the hype train longer than anyone else and I certainly ain't turning around now.
First, second, it doesn't really matter. Either way, I was there and I'll always be there to defend my boy Akira haha
Im just busting balls. I have been talking about him since our 2018 prospect polls, so I am right there with ya.First, second, it doesn't really matter. Either way, I was there and I'll always be there to defend my boy Akira haha
2021 prospect rankings, I started voting Schimd in at the #12 ranked prospect poll, where I was the only vote. Up until #20, 1-3 people would vote for him per poll, and we finally concluded with Schmid getting a grand total of 4(!) votes for him in the #20 poll. I honestly would've voted him higher but in my opinion it's really hard to justify goalies that high in a ranking when they haven't proven it at the professional level yet no matter how good they might look at lower levels. He was my #11 ranked prospect just ahead of Nico Daws, who I ranked #12 and HFDevils ranked #16.
I don't think it was that hard of a line up to crack over the last last two years...I’m not talking about in the prospect poll, I voted for Casey over him anyway. Just the general sentiment. I get that he hasn’t put it all together yet, but it’s also way harder to crack the lineup on one of the best teams in the league vs the shit we were most of the last decade.
that means the same can happen for Holtz!I don't think it was that hard of a line up to crack over the last last two years...
we watched Mercer from the same draft class do it quite successfully.
The contrast of those two players trajectories should give some perspective...today we're debating whether Holtz is the 3 to 6 best prospect in our system while simultaneously talking about locking up Mercer to a long-term deal. At one point we considered these two prospects "close"
Cracking the line up was rather simple for Holtz. He's had opportunity at the end of 2021-22, the beginning and middle of 2022-23.... it wasn't opportunity that held him back it was performance.
Today the lineup is without a doubt significantly more difficult for him to crack than it was the previous two years but he also squandered opportunity.
Edit: none of this is to say he is not a viable NHL candidate... it is solely to say that he should fall on our prospect list... nothing more.
Maybe, not ruling it out...but in two years he'll be 24 years old...he'll be 22 this season....there are guys on this list that we hope will have much better trajectories than that, wouldn't you agree?that means the same can happen for Holtz!
we could be discussing him for 3rd to 6th best prospect
but then he could have a big season for us
and then in two years be discussed for a longterm contract!
good point!Maybe, not ruling it out...but in two years he'll be 24 years old...he'll be 22 this season....there are guys on this list that we hope will have much better trajectories than that, wouldn't you agree?
We have guys like Mercer, Luke and Nemec, potentially others, that aren't/won't be prospect eligible at 22 years old and their careers will be well underway.
The "in two years" is exactly why I think he should be dropped on our list a few notches.
Could not care less about where anyone was drafted.Tbh Idk how Holtz is getting votes. If he wasn't drafted as high as he did people wouldn't be voting for him. I rank Casey, Grits, and Schmid over him. I also really like Filmon. If Holtz don't make the team this year he is gone.
Also going with Schmid here. Yes a goalie, but clearly more proven than any other prospect available and he's shown he turn in above-average NHL play.I'm going to start giving my personal rankings when I vote as well up to this point.
My 3rd ranked prospect is Akira Schmid. I've been on the hype train longer than anyone else and I certainly ain't turning around now. Current rankings:
Add Bardakov. Also been hyping him up for a while as well. Said he was the 2nd best player we got out of the 2021 draft at the time of the draft and still believe that now.
- Luke Hughes
- Simon Nemec
- Akira Schmid
I was never as high on Holtz as consensus from the time he was drafted.If Holtz wasn’t a 1st round pick and put up 32 goals 62 points in 66 AHL games as a 20-21 year old, he might be thought of even more highly. If anything, he is currently underrated as a prospect on the board.
I think his overall play with the puck is pretty good, not just his shot. I like his playmaking ability. And I think his skating is just below average, not sloth-like. He’s faster than Toffoli, for example.I was never as high on Holtz as consensus from the time he was drafted.
I just think the "translatability" of prospects whose best attribute is their shot, but don't have another plus trait (i.e. acceleration/skating, vision, puck skills, or motor) is not great.
Sounds bad, but I would be shopping Holtz to get an NHL roster upgrade before the shine wears off of Holtz's value.
Tbh Idk how Holtz is getting votes. If he wasn't drafted as high as he did people wouldn't be voting for him. I rank Casey, Grits, and Schmid over him. I also really like Filmon. If Holtz don't make the team this year he is gone.
Agreed he is a better skater than someone like Toffoli, but coaches trust a Toffoli because the defensive awareness and work rate is there. A high-end sniper (but without shot volume), with below-average skating, good-but-not-NHL-plus puckskills, below average defensive game and work rate...to me that player type just isn't really going to translate to being a good top-six forward. Although of course the AHL production is encouraging.I think his overall play with the puck is pretty good, not just his shot. I like his playmaking ability. And I think his skating is just below average, not sloth-like. He’s faster than Toffoli, for example.
He clearly needs to make a jump in his overall game and awareness in general. He will never make it with the shot rate he managed in his limited time last year.
We have the ability to construct some lines that really hide his deficiencies, even away from our top centers. I could see Palat-Haula-Holtz working. Two high motor defensively responsible vets.
Agreed he is a better skater than someone like Toffoli, but coaches trust a Toffoli because the defensive awareness and work rate is there. A high-end sniper (but without shot volume), with below-average skating, good-but-not-NHL-plus puckskills, below average defensive game and work rate...to me that player type just isn't really going to translate to being a good top-six forward. Although of course the AHL production is encouraging.
I kind of disagree with the bolded though. It's hard to fit Holtz in the lineup because he isn't going to displace any top-six forward, but the Palat - Haula combo is also probably going to be utilized in more difficult defensive deployment/matchups - also not a great place for Holtz.