Scouting the 09 Draft – Peter Holland

Another big guy from the OHL, Peter Holland is ranked 19th amongst NA skaters by NHL Central Scouting and should be within range of the Flames, even if they end up trading down in the first round. The second highest scorer for the Guelph Storm this year, Holland has nice numbers (28g-63pts) and size (6’2″, 190 pounds), although some reports claim he plays too much of a “perimeter game”.

There's lots to like about Holland's stats: he was the highest scoring player of his age/draft eligibility on his team, with second best totals in goals and points to the older Matt Kennedy. Holland also had the 2nd best plus/minus rating on the club (+10), well ahead of other draftables such as Taylor Beck (+3) and Michael Latta (-10). His PP goal number was respectable at 10, but not so large as to suggest his offensive totals were propped up by lots of PP time (like Kennedy's 18 PPG stat).

Although possessing decent size, most reports I see say Holland doesn't have much of a physical game which is what has likely dropped his draft ranking below, say, Zack Kassian. Sean Keogh doesn't see that as much of a limitation in his review of the player, however:

This is from Keogh's "Top 20 OHL Prospects" piece in which he actually ranks Holland 5th overall – ahead of highly touted guys like the aforementioned Kassian or Nazem Kadri.

Guelph coach Jason Brooks also had good things to say about Holland in this Jason Menard story from Hockey's Future:

Why the Flames might pick him

Strong stats and good size make Holland a sensible target for Calgary in the first round. The fact that he was a leader on his team and is apparently driven to improve probably wouldn't hurt his interview either.

Why they might not

Inconsistency and what seems like a passive game at times could work against Holland in Flames scouts eyes. Where Sean Keogh sees "intelligence and over-thinking", others may just see an unwillingness to engage.

by Kent Wilson