Holzer missed three months while rehabbing a wrist injury before recording five points in 12 games with AHL San Diego last year. He went on to appear in 22 contests with the big club, adding four points, 61 hits and 38 blocked shots over that span. The German blueliner has never been known for offense, but at 31 years old, he should be able to act as a mentor for the younger defensemen the Ducks will likely have on their roster this season. Holzer has also never played in more than 34 games or posted more than seven points in a single NHL campaign, so there's no reason for him to be on any fantasy owner's radar.
After signing a two-year contract in June 2017, Holzer was often a healthy scratch and was waived in both February and April. Holzer was given plenty of chances with the big club, but he scored just two goals and eight assists in 77 games over the last three seasons. Therefore, he was placed on unconditional waivers in June with the intention of being bought out. Nothing surfaced that in regard, but he's expected to be out until February due to offseason wrist surgery.
Having appeared in just 29 games with the Ducks last year, Holzer was re-signed to a one-way contract on a very crowded blue line. The 28-year-old German has appeared in just 87 NHL games after six years in North America, spending the majority of the time with AHL Toronto before being traded to Anaheim. At 6-foot-3 and with little offensive talent to speak of, Holzer is a depth stay-at-home defenseman who should play sparingly. There are far more talented defenders to chose from in the fantasy realm.
Holzer will be in tough to win the seventh spot on the Leafs blue line this season. He'll compete with Petter Granberg for that gig and may have the inside edge given his four years of AHL experience. He's 26 and a UFA at season's end, so he'll be eager to prove himself NHL-worthy, either for the Leafs or another squad. His contributions will be greater on the ice than in the fantasy arena.
Holzer is the strong, silent and steady type, who won't impress you with his offense or frustrate you with defensive gaffes. He's the kind of guy who'll go unnoticed for most of the season, but most teams cannot live without. His time in 2013-14 will be spent with the Marlies, though, unless injuries strike.
Holzer and Mark Fraser formed one of the most impressive shut-down D pairs in the AHL last season, leading the Marlies to the Calder Cup Finals. Holzer is 6-3 and 205, a good skater and sees the ice well, and he plays with a bit of an edge. His development this year made Luke Schenn expendable and he could find himself with the big club coming out of camp. There's no pressure, though -- the Leafs won't rush him. But he's ready. Just don't count on him for fantasy goodness -- he'll be better on the ice than in the fantasy arena.
Holzer is talented enough, we suppose. But the Leafs blue line is fairly cluttered and another season (or two) in the AHL are likely in order for this muscled German. We do like his mean streak but we really need to see more before we jump to any judgment on this future.
Holzer is a 22-year-old defender from Germany whose offensive production took a big leap last season with the DEG Metro Stars (Dusseldorf). Couple that with an abrasive streak and this 6-3 defender could some day earn a job on the Buds' bottom pairing. It just won't come any time soon.
