The Vegas Golden Knights are adding a reliable body to the blue line, reportedly adding defenseman Nick Holden. While the team has yet to officially announce the deal, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Holden will sign for two years at $4.4MM, with an AAV of just over $2MM. The Golden Knights outbid the Boston Bruins who trying to keep him in the fold.
Holden provides the Golden Knights depth after the team parted ways from Luca Sbisa and a two-year deal keeps the team nice and short, which is what the Golden Knights were able to do with center Paul Stastny, who signed a three-year pact. Holden provides Vegas with a veteran defensive presence, but his best attribute is his size as he stands 6-foot-4.
Holden spent the last two years with the New York Rangers, but was traded at the deadline for a third-round pick and a lower-tier prospect to the Boston Bruins. However, the 31-year-old blueliner’s game is starting to decline as his numbers dropped from a year ago. After an 11 goal and 34 point season in 2016-17, he finished with four goals and 17 points between the two teams this season.