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Back in training camp, nobody expected newcomer Nick Holden to make the team, much less make a difference on it. While his play had some holes, his uncanny ability to sneak in for a rebound or slick pass was something to behold.
Regular Season
Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 54 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 12 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 15.2 |
Advanced Stats 5 v. 5
| CF% | CF% Rel | GF% | GF% Rel | Sh% | Sv% | PDO |
| 48.00% | 1.40% | 56.10% | 6.70% | 9.80% | 92.90% | 102.8 |
Grade
B
Staff Comments
Steve: I like his game more than many. His offensive IQ is solid. Really forced to play over his head defensively because the blueline is so thin.
c6hor8: I thought he was a good signing, but his offensive instincts are top-4 level. He impressed me.
Mike: I like his shot from the point, I like his size, his skating is average at best, but I feel like he could be… IDK… better somehow? Still 25 points in 54 games with only 22 PIMS for a replacement level player is pretty damn good. May have cost Elliott a job.
Cheryl: He did much better than I expected, but at times still looked lost. He improved as the season progressed, and his offense was a welcomed addition.
Sandie: This one has an asterix for me. He gets such a high grade (and I realize I'm marking him high) because I had such low expectations of him. Next year if he produces at the same level he'll be marked much harsher and much lower.
Playoffs
Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 |
Advanced Stats 5 v. 5
| CF% | CF% Rel | GF% | GF% Rel | Sh% | Sv% | PDO |
| 40.80% | -0.70% | 42.90% | 2.90% | 7.50% | 93.90% | 101.4 |
Grade
B
Staff Comments
c6hor8: Played well but not up to his regular season record.
mfured20: Nick had a hell of a playoffs. Granted that he wasn't facing the hardest opponents, but he managed to do everything that was asked of him, including snagging us 4 points.
Mike: Thrived on his matchups. 2 PPG, 4 points, 25 hits, and finished +2. Got Barrie's minutes on the PP and was effective. Handled himself well in the post-season. Hope it's a jumpstart to a great 2014-2015.
Andi: I wasn't planning on giving any defenseman but Barrie higher than a C, but Nick Holden had 3 goals (and an assist!) in 7 games. For a rookie defenseman, that is really respectable. He also logged the 2nd most minutes on the blueline behind EJ. This was a guy who was signed to play in Lake Erie this year, so the fact he managed this situation as well as he did really says something about the type of player he is. His defense certainly wasn't great - no one's was - but he found a way to contribute on the other end of the ice.
Preseason Thoughts
There weren't any. Holden was such a non-factor to begin the season, he wasn't on anyone's radar.