Alexander Holtz
Swedish forward drafted seventh overall by New Jersey in 2020.
Alexander Gabriel Holtz, a Swedish professional ice hockey forward, currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. The New Jersey Devils picked him seventh overall in the 2020 draft.
Holtz was born on 23 January 2002 in Stockholm. His father, Magnus Holtz (formerly Andersson), played two seasons for Västerviks IK. He has an older brother, David. As a child, Holtz tried football, tennis, golf, and basketball before committing to hockey. He began playing for Boo IF and followed his older brother, who also played. At the time, his father coached Nacka HK. Holtz debuted in junior hockey at age 13, playing U16 for Nacka/Farsta FoC in the 2014–15 season. He spent two more seasons with Nacka’s U16 team, then moved up to their J18 Elit team in 2016–17. Throughout those years, he averaged nearly two points per game, often playing against opponents two years older. In 2017, he represented Stockholm South at the TV-pucken tournament, scoring six goals and ten points in six games, and won the Sven Tumba award as the tournament’s best forward.
Holtz joined Djurgårdens IF for the 2017–18 season, playing for their junior teams. He made his SHL debut on 29 January 2019 against Färjestad BK. That season, he led the J20 SuperElit regular season with 30 goals in 38 games, and Djurgården finished third in the playoffs. In the 2019–20 season, he played in the Champions Hockey League, scoring two goals in the opener against GKS Tychy. He recorded his first SHL point on 14 September, assisting Michael Haga in a win over Linköping HC. Three days later, he scored his first two SHL goals against Växjö Lakers goaltender Viktor Fasth. On 23 September, he signed a two-year contract extension with Djurgården through the 2021–22 season. In the 2020–21 campaign, he played a career-high 40 SHL games, notching seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. After co-leading Djurgården in playoff scoring with four points in three games, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils on 19 April 2021, plus an amateur tryout with their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils.
Holtz moved to North America full-time for the 2021–22 season. After NHL preseason, he was assigned to the AHL’s Utica Comets, where he ranked among top rookie scorers with 26 goals and 51 points in 52 games.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 2002-01-23
- Birth Place
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 183
- Position
- Forward
- Shoots
- Right
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Prospect League
- AHL
- Former Teams
- Djurgårdens IF / New Jersey Devils
- Draft
- 7th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Holtz was born in Stockholm to Magnus Holtz, a former ice hockey player who played two seasons for Västerviks IK, and has an older brother, David. As a youngster he played football, tennis, golf, and basketball before choosing hockey. He began his career in Boo IF and debuted as a 13-year-old in U16 with Nacka/Farsta FoC. He later moved to Djurgårdens IF for the 2017–18 season, making his SHL debut on 29 January 2019. In the 2019–20 Champions Hockey League, he scored two goals in his first game against GKS Tychy. He led the J20 SuperElit regular season with 30 goals in 38 games.
Holtz signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils on 19 April 2021. He spent most of the 2021–22 season with the AHL's Utica Comets, recording 26 goals and 51 points in 52 games. He scored his first NHL goal on 13 October 2022. On 29 June 2024, Holtz and Akira Schmid were traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for Paul Cotter and a third-round pick in 2025. After the 2024–25 season, as a restricted free agent unable to agree to a new deal, he signed a professional tryout agreement on 18 September 2025, then a two-year contract with an average annual value of $837,500 on 7 October.
Reader's Guide
Holtz's significance lies in his trajectory as a high draft pick who developed through Swedish junior and professional leagues before transitioning to North America. His early career featured exceptional scoring in Swedish junior hockey, including leading the J20 SuperElit in goals and earning the Sven Tumba award as best forward at the TV-pucken tournament. His move to the NHL with the Devils saw him split time between the AHL and NHL, recording his first NHL goal and point. The trade to Vegas in 2024 marked a new chapter, and he scored his first goal for the Golden Knights in October 2024. His contract negotiations after the 2024–25 season, culminating in a professional tryout and subsequent two-year deal, illustrate the business side of professional hockey. Holtz's career reflects the path of a Swedish prospect navigating junior, European, and North American leagues to establish himself in the NHL.
Did You Know?
- Holtz was awarded the Sven Tumba award as the best forward of the 2017 TV-pucken tournament.
- He scored his first SHL goal against goaltender Viktor Fasth of Växjö Lakers on 17 September 2019.
- He signed a two-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on 7 October 2025, with an average annual value of $837,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alexander Holtz?
Alexander Gabriel Holtz is a Swedish ice hockey forward born in Stockholm on January 23, 2002, who currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. He entered the league after being selected seventh overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2020 entry draft.
What position does Alexander Holtz play and where did he start his pro career?
Holtz is a forward, meaning his primary role is on the offensive side of the ice. He made his professional debut in the Swedish Hockey League with Djurgårdens IF in January 2019, facing Färjestad BK in his first SHL game.
When did Alexander Holtz record his first NHL point and first goal?
He collected his first NHL point on November 9, 2021, with an assist on a Pavel Zacha goal. His first NHL goal came later, on October 13, 2022, scored against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Who drafted Alexander Holtz and where in the draft?
The New Jersey Devils selected Holtz with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft. He was one of the highest-rated Swedish prospects available that year.
What is Alexander Holtz's family and early-sports background?
Holtz grew up in Stockholm and tried football, tennis, golf, and basketball before committing to hockey. He followed his older brother David into the sport, playing for Boo IF as a youngster while his father Magnus (formerly Andersson) coached at Nacka HK.
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