Nick Holden

Nick Holden (born May 15, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, and Ottawa Senators.

Holden began his hockey career in the St. Albert, Alberta area, playing alongside Ryan Stanton with the St. Albert Raiders.

His play eventually drew attention towards him from the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), but he never foresaw a future with the sport.

By the age of 18, Holden began apprenticeships to work towards the goal of becoming a plumber.

Instead, he joined the Chilliwack Bruins of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as an undrafted player and played two seasons with them.

Holden ended his major junior hockey career by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He played within the organization for seven years before leaving as a free agent for the Colorado Avalanche.

Holden was born on May 15, 1987, in St. Albert, Alberta, to parents Lynda and John Holden.

His father John was a former hockey player and his step brother played for the Vancouver Giants.

He grew up in Alberta with siblings Tiffany and Jack and attended St. Albert Catholic High School.

When he was 12 years old, Holden earned his first job as an ice hockey referee.

As a youth, Holden played bantam and midget-A ice hockey without trying out for a team.

He began playing peewee hockey with his sister Tiffany and only took the game seriously when he reached Midget.

He later played Midget AAA hockey for the St. Albert Raiders alongside future NHLer Ryan Stanton.

In his final season with the team, he played in 35 games and recorded 22 points, the most by a defenseman, which drew attention from the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

His play earned him a callup to the Junior A-level Camrose Kodiaks and competed with them in the RBC Cup.

During the 2005 AJHL Championship, Holden and the Kodiaks lost 3–2 against the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).

Holden eventually played Junior A-level hockey for the Kodiaks and Sherwood Park Crusaders in the AJHL, but disliked the attention he received.

While playing in the AJHL, Holden has said he was more focused on earning a college scholarship than continuing to play hockey.

By the age of 18, Holden secured an apprenticeship in plumbing which he planned on continuing if his hockey career did not pan out.

As a result, Holden flew under the radar of most scouts until Chilliwack Bruins General manager Darrell May saw him play for the Kodiaks the night before the 2006 Western Hockey League (WHL) Entry Draft.

He eventually joined the Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL as an undrafted player in 2006 after graduating from St. Albert's. Standing at 6 ft and weighing 200 lbs, Holden garnered attention from Allain Roy of CMG Sports, a sports agent company.

Holden said this is when he'd first "ever thought about it....I never figured I needed an agent."

After his rookie season, Holden earned a scholarship to the University of the Fraser Valley and was invited to the Edmonton Oilers 2007 NHL training camp on an Amateur Tryout.

Upon returning for his second season with the Bruins, Holden was named captain of the team while recording 22 goals and 38 assists for a total of 60 points.

Upon signing his contract, Holden joined the Columbus Blue Jackets then-American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.

On March 28, 2008, Holden signed a three year entry level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, thus concluding his major junior career.

He played one game with the team before beginning his first full professional campaign during the 2008–09 season, where he recorded 22 points in 61 games.

Holden attended the Blue Jackets training camp prior to the 2009–10 season, but was reassigned to the AHL on September 28, 2009.

He spent the entirety of the season with the Crunch and recorded a then-career high 23 points in 68 games.

Following the 2009–10 season, the Blue Jackets switched their AHL affiliate to the Springfield Falcons and Holden began the season with them.

After playing in two games for the Falcons, Holden was called up to the NHL as a replacement for the injured Mike Commodore.

He made his NHL debut on October 20, 2010, in a 3–1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks and played in five games before being reassigned to the AHL on November 5, 2010.

Holden concluded the season with the Falcons and recorded a then-career high 25 points in 67 games.

On June 20, 2011, Holden and the Blue Jackets agreed to a one-year, two-way NHL-American Hockey League Contract for the following season.

With a new contract signed, Holden attended the Blue Jackets training camp prior to the 2011–12 season.

While with the Avalanche, Holden became a mainstay on the NHL roster and proved to be an important part of their defence during the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.

He spent three seasons with the Avalanche before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2016, who in turn, traded him to the Boston Bruins after a year and a half.

Holden played 18 games with the Bruins before signing as a free agent with the Vegas Golden Knights, his fifth NHL club.

Holden was traded to the Ottawa Senators in July 2021, before retiring in 2023 to join the Golden Knights' player development staff.