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Anaheim Ducks Top Prospects: Peter Holland

August 24, 2012, 1:29 PM ET [9 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Since I had been unintentionally profiling American born Anaheim Ducks prospects, I decided today to is the day I should change all of that. Instead, I'll turn our attention north of the border and focus on Caledon, Ontario's very own, Peter Holland.

Holland is a gifted, yet sometimes aloof young center. Now don't get me wrong, the kid is not lazy. It's more like he hasn't put "it" altogether yet. He has the ability to be an elite set-up man, but instead opts to shoot first and pass later as evidenced by the video below.



Holland put together an impressive resume while playing in the OHL. From 2008-11, the 21-year-old was a point producing machine. He collected 234 points (95g 139a) in 194 games.

The young Canadian made the transition to the AHL quite easily. He played his first full season with Syracuse in 2011-12 and continued to show promise by putting up better than expected numbers. He ended the season with 60 points (23g 37a) in 71 games; good enough for second in team in scoring behind Patrick Maroon's 74 points.

Holland played well enough to earn himself a look in the NHL. With the Ducks well out of the playoff hunt; he saw some time at the end of the regular season. He played a total of four games with the Anaheim, scoring a goal and picking up two penalty minutes in limited action.

At 6' 2" and almost 200 lbs., Holland already has the size to be an impact player at the NHL level. His soft hands and slick shooting make his a dangerous offensive weapon. If he can work on playing a complete game that includes passing the puck, than the Ducks may its legitimate center of the future (Getzlaf becomes and UFA next summer). I would imagine this upcoming season will be a good barometer to gauge how soon we will see Holland in the NHL.

Most view Holland as Anaheim's future at center; in the meantime he is the low man on a tall totem pole of NHL caliber centers already in the system. With players like Ryan Getzlaf, Saku Koivu, Nick Bonino and even Kyle Palmieri ahead of him of the depth chart, its unlikely Holland will see much NHL ice team this season or even next. This is especially true if Anaheim views Holland as a top-six talent. In that case, they will take care not to rush his progression.

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