Holos signs contract in Sweden
Norwegian defenseman’s era with the Avalanche is done.Jonas Holos, who is still a member of the Colorado Avalanche organization, has signed 1+1 year contract with a team of Swedish top-tier league Farjestad BK. According to the international hockey rules, Avs have kept their rights on Holos since he got his first NHL contract in 2010 from this team. After he refused to play in the AHL, they have allowed him to come back to Europe after just one season in the NHL. Avalanche’s rights on him will expire on July 1st, 2015. Until this day, Holos can’t negotiate and get contract with other NHL teams. But with being his contract signed in Sweden for the next two years, it is clear his days with the Avalanche are definitely done.
Eurolanche.com reported in May this year there was a little talking between Holos’ agent and Colorado management, but as Holos himself said in the exclusive interview to Eurolanche Fan Club he would play back for Avs only if they gave him one-way contract. Apparently, Sakic and co. has had no interest in this kind of offer.
“I have always felt that I want to play again in Farjestad since a day when I left this team,” said Holos to official team’s website farjestadbk.se. He spent two seasons there prior his one-year stint overseas and won a national championship in 2009. “It is great feeling to be back there of course. When I was in the KHL last years, it was tough due too much travel and lack of social life of the rinks. Now, it will be completely different,” said Holos.
During the 2010-11 season, Holos played 39 games in the NHL, registering 6 points (all assists) and 10 penalty minutes. He also played for the Avs‘ AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, suiting up for 17 games and registering 6 assists and 8 penalty minutes. He appeared in 7 games in the AHL playoffs that year, scoring a goal and an assist.
Per mutual agreement, he left North America after the season and went to play for the Växjö Lakers of the Elitserien, despite his NHL contract being for two years, not just one. He played two seasons in Sweden before signing a contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, where he spent the past two seasons.
David Puchovsky, Slovakia, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
15/06/2015 - 23:16
