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John Benedetti
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With Gallagher Out, Habs Should Look No Further Than Bud Holloway
A product of Wapella, Saskatchewan, Bud Holloway was selected in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. Nine years later, he may get the chance to play his first ever game in the National Hockey League. The 27 year-old gets his potential chance after a very impressive start to his 2015-16 campaign with the St. John’s Ice Caps of the AHL. He currently leads the Ice Caps in point production, having accumulated 20 points in 18 games so far.
Perfect Fit to Replace Gallagher?
(Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)
Holloway is a right-handed shot that can play on the right wing. He could prove to be the perfect replacement for Brendan Gallagher in the midst of his injury, even though the two have different styles of play. Holloway is much larger at 6’0, 200lbs, whereas Gallagher stands 5’9 from the ground.
Michel Therrien has decided that Holloway will be a healthy scratch tonight against the New York Rangers as Devante Smith-Pelly will replace Gallagher on Montreal’s first line. Depending on how Smith-Pelly does tonight on the top line, Holloway could possibly get his chance on Friday or Saturday against New Jersey. If he does make his way into the lineup, it will be a great opportunity for him to show what he can do playing with and against elite players at the highest level of play.
Long Road
Before this season, Holloway last played in the AHL in 2010-2011 with the LA Kings’ affiliate Manchester. He then moved overseas to continue his hockey career in the Swedish Elite League, where he dazzled and impressed many onlookers. In 2014-15, a one-year stint in the Swiss League caused him to yet again impressed NHL scouts. Holloway earned himself a one-year, two-way NHL contract for the 2015-16 season. Picking up right where he left off in Europe, he stormed into the AHL with the St. John’s Ice Caps. He did not have an easy road to the NHL, but if there is one player who has earned and rightfully deserves a chance to play in the NHL, it is Bud Holloway. It has taken him a while, but hopefully, at last, he will get to live out his dream.
Los Angeles Times
What about Los Angeles- you know, the team that drafted Holloway in the third round in 2006? Well let’s just say that if the right-winger were to earn himself a permanent home in the NHL with Montreal, Dean Lombardi and the Kings’ brass probably won’t be overly joyous about it. It was August of 2005 when Jeremy Roenick (salary dump) and a third round pick (Bud Holloway) were traded to Los Angeles in exchange for “future considerations”. Essentially, the Flyers wanted to get rid of Roenick’s cap hit in order to accommodate Peter Forsberg’s new contract. The third round pick sent LA’s way was later used to select Bud Holloway 86th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. In 2011, Holloway, assuming he would not crack the Kings’ NHL roster, bolted for Europe much to the displeasure of General Manager Dean Lombardi. Lombardi used the words “frustrating” and “mind-boggling” to describe Holloway’s decision to leave. Lombardi was especially upset with the concept of Holloway leaving the Kings’ organization and moving along the path to free agency while playing in Europe.
Some find it hard to blame Lombardi for being frustrated with Holloway and his decision. Some, on the other hand, point to the fact that the Los Angeles Kings mismanaged their young talent. The Kings had their former third round pick playing in the East Coast Hockey League just three years after being drafted. The ECHL is a long way to fall for a player drafted 86th overall. Without a doubt, there was tension between Holloway and the Kings organization.
Give Me A Chance
Putting everything behind him, Bud seems to be excited as ever to finally get the opportunity to play in his first NHL game. More than anything, this player probably just needs a fair chance. He has proven himself in Europe. He has proven himself in the American Hockey League. He even let his play do the talking in the highly-esteemed East Coast Hockey League, in which he scored 22 points in 23 games with the Ontario Reign. Uh, right. At twenty-seven years old, he isn’t your average NHL rookie. There’s no telling whether or not he will establish himself in the NHL or if this will be a shorter-term thing. At the price the Canadiens paid for him, why not at least give him the chance he deserves, right? Congratulations and best of luck to Bud Holloway.
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