It’s the end of the road in North America for Peter Holland, at least for the next two seasons. The minor league forward has signed a two-year contract with Avtomobilist in the KHL. Holland played last season entirely in the minor leagues with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Rockford IceHogs, the first time in his career that he didn’t suit up at least a handful of times in the NHL.
Holland, 28, was originally selected 15th overall back in 2009 by the Anaheim Ducks, but never did realize his full potential. The 6’2″ center made his debut with the Ducks in 2011-12 but was moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs a few years later. Despite setting career highs in games played, goals and points, Holland still didn’t provide much upside for the Maple Leafs with just 63 points in 174 games even in a sheltered offensive role. He was flipped to the Arizona Coyotes in 2016-17, before finding himself in the Montreal minor league system.
Last playing in 2017-18 with the New York Rangers, Holland’s NHL career may well be over at this point. While he has proved to be an excellent minor league scoring threat, his offensive game disappeared in the NHL and he didn’t provide much at the other end of the rink. Perhaps some success in the KHL will create some intrigue, but that will at least have to wait for two seasons.