Anaheim Ducks Prospect Update: My Number Three

Nov 11, 2011; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center

(74) reacts after scoring a goal Vancouver Canucks goalie

(right) during the second period at The Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

My number four top prospect for the Anaheim Ducks was Rickard Rakell. Now, my number three Anaheim Ducks prospect is center Peter Holland. The young gun made his NHL debut last season for the Ducks, appearing in four games and tallying his first career NHL goal on his first career NHL shot. He is currently on the Ducks roster, but has been a healthy scratch the first two games of the season. Before the lockout ended, he was having a pretty successful season with the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL.

Anaheim Ducks center prospect Peter Holland (via norfolkadmirals.com)

Holland is now 22-years-old. He hails from Caledon, Ontario, which is right around Toronto. He was born on January 14, 1991. The Ducks drafted him in the 1st round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, 15th overall. He is a left-handed shot and is listed at 6′ 3″-200 lbs.

Holland has really progressed well over the last few seasons. He has always had good size, but it is now evident that he has a great frame for the NHL. He had been questioned about his effort and consistency. However, he has worked hard and now seems to have fixed those problems. He has been able to produce a lot of points in every level he has played so far in his career. He was a over a point-per-game during his best years in the Ontario Hockey League with the Guelph Storm. He has carried over his excellent offensive play to the Admirals in the AHL. He has a very soft touch for a guy as big as he is. His offensive skill at this point has developed very well and he still has plenty of offensive upside. However, if needed, he does have good vision and good passing abilities so that he could develop into a solid setup man as well. His shot is deadly accurate and he can go top shelf where momma hides the cookies!

As I said in the previous paragraph, some scouts had critiqued Holland as a guy who didn’t always give it his all. Therefore, his consistency was also called into question. However, he seems to have worked hard on trying to become more consistent and work hard on every shift. Another criticism of Holland’s game has been the use of his big frame. He’s 6′ 3″-200, but is not overly physical. He has the size and strength to be more physical. It’s all a question of his will to be more physical. If he wants to fully fulfill his potential, he needs to be more physical and become the elite scorer that he could become.

Holland is on the verge of becoming a full-timer for the Ducks. He’s been a healthy scratch so far this season with Rickard Rakell still on his six-game tryout. Rakell has looked pretty solid. So, if Rakell stays for the foreseeable future, than I think it would be better for Peter Holland to be sent down to the AHL, but if there are any injuries to a top-six forward, he should be the first guy to be considered to be called up. He is a scorer, plain and simple. Putting him in a bottom-six forward spot might not help him develop. However, it’s not going to be too long before a spot in the top-six opens up for Holland to fill in. With the other young forwards in the system for the Ducks, Peter Holland might be the best pure scorer.

My #2 prospect update will be posted next week. Be ready and go ahead and take a guess on who you think will be my #2 prospect for the Anaheim Ducks.

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