Nick Holden is on the move again.
A former defenceman with the Western Hockey League’s Chilliwack Bruins, the 30 year old has been dealt from the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers to the Boston Bruins in a pre-trade deadline day swap.
The Bruins sent a third round pick and depth blueliner Rob O’Gara to New York in return. Holden joins his third NHL team knowing he’ll have a chance at a deep playoff run. Boston has the third best record (36-13-8) in the league and are considered the co-favourites, along with Tampa Bay, to represent the Eastern conference in this year’s Stanley Cup Finals.
Holden is in his seventh NHL season. He signed with Columbus out of Major Junior, but played just seven games for the Blue Jackets before signing as a free agent with Colorado in 2013-14.
The six-foot-four and 214 pounder found traction with the Avalanche, where he appeared in 214 games.
Holden was traded from Colorado to New York at the 2016 NHL entry draft in exchange for a fourth round pick and played 135 games in Ranger blue.
In total the Alberta native has played 356 big-league games, producing 35 goals, 107 points and 123 penalty minutes. He is easily the longest-tenured former Bruin in the NHL. The only other contender is Holden’s former Chilliwack teammate Brandon Manning, who has appeared in 186 games with the Philadelphia Flyers. Oscar Moller is still active with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League, where he has 17 goals and 40 points in 43 games this season.