In our “Should He Stay Or Should He Go” series, we spent some time this weekend talking about Nick Holden, and the reaction was a clear vote to keep the young defenseman in the Blue Jackets‘ system.
It would seem Scott Howson agrees, as Aaron Portzline of the Dispatch is reporting that the team has signed Holden to a one year, two way deal. This gives Holden a good chance to prove himself in Springfield (and to compete for a roster spot in training camp), but also flexibility for Howson – should Holden fail to make a big impact this season, he’ll be able to cut ties easily, or possibly package Holden in a deal with a trade partner.
Holden’s numbers at the AHL level have been decent, if not outstanding, and he’s shown steady improvement over the last three seasons. While most expect Scott Howson to rebuild his defense through trades and free agency, there is a window of opportunity for him to make the Jackets’ roster with a good training camp. It will be interesting to see how Holden responds in September.