Holland reveals a love of hockey
Penguins rival Blue Jackets top his list
BRADENTON, Fla. — Derek Holland parked his Maserati near the entrance to the equipment room at Pirate City late last week and emerged from under its vertical doors wearing a Columbus Blue Jackets hat.
While Holland played for the Texas Rangers from 2009-16 and befriended a few members of the Dallas Stars during that time, the Newark, Ohio, native will never stop rooting for his hometown team.
Even, as it turns out, if he winds up earning a roster spot with the Pirates and spending the summer in Pittsburgh.
Holland is a die-hard hockey fan, plays pickup games and one day wants to visit every NHL arena. He has not yet been to PPG Paints Arena and hopes things will work out to where he’s able to watch a playoff game there this April.
But again, if it’s against the Blue Jackets — the Penguins’ projected opponent as of Friday morning — it sounds as if things might be a little awkward.
“I don’t want them to try to bring me into their dark side,” Holland joked about Penguins fans. “I’ll cheer for [the Penguins], but I have to stick to my roots. That’s just how I was brought up. You have to give your love to the Blue Jackets. … If the Blue Jackets are out or the Stars are out, [the Penguins] will become my team.”
That might not be what Pittsburghers want to hear, but give Holland this: The dude is honest. He’s also not the least bit cliched in his answers, which is definitely appreciated. And the Blue Jackets thing can be forgiven for a couple of reasons.
One, there’s been plenty of turnover in Columbus, and there’s actually a lot to like about the Blue Jackets, even though Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nick Foligno can be hard to play against, coach John Tortorella isn’t exactly a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, and Columbus has some seriously skilled defensemen in Zach Werenski and Seth Jones.
“I’m just glad to see we’re getting into the playoffs,” Holland said. “The first 10 years of the Blue Jackets, we had nothing. But now there’s a solid coaching staff, and they have some good things going. [Goaltender] Elvis [Merzlikins] is doing a great job. To me, they can sneak their way in there.”
But enough about the Blue Jackets. Holland has more hockey connections than rooting for his hometown team.
Apparently he knows Chuck Greenberg, a prominent Pittsburgh sports attorney, Mario Lemieux confidant and the former managing partner/CEO of the Rangers from 2010-11.
Greenberg was the one who helped Holland meet Penguins captain Sidney Crosby at American Airlines Center in Dallas, where Crosby quickly impressed Holland.
“Awesome guy,” Holland said of Crosby. “I love the way he carries himself and goes about his business. Obviously he’s a pro. He’s good at what he does.
“Just listening to the guy talk, he’s one of those people where you’re going to sit there and be in awe. He’s a legend, but he’s also a great dude both on and off the ice.”
Holland is big into autographs — he referred to himself as a “hoarder” — and got his Jaromir Jagr jersey signed when the NHL legend spent 34 games with the Stars in 2012-13. But being the huge hockey fan that he is, Holland knew he was missing the other half, the pitcher wanting a signed Mario Lemieux jersey to display next to it.
So Holland contacted Greenberg, who said he could make it happen, though Holland said he’s still waiting.
“When you see him or talk to Chuck,” Holland said, “let him know I’m still waiting.”
One of Holland’s all-time favorite players is former Blue Jackets star Rick Nash. He’s also a big fan of Derick Brassard, Sergei Bobrovsky, Fedor Tyutin and Jared Boll. “The fighter,” Holland said of Boll, who fought 169 times in a 10-year stretch from 2007-17. “I love watching him.”
Another connection Holland made during his time with the Rangers was longtime Coyotes captain Shane Doan, whom Holland befriended one year in spring training. That relationship grew to also include Kyle Turris, who currently plays for the Nashville Predators.
“I love hockey,” Holland said. “To me, it’s one of the hardest sports to play. Just to be on the ice is one thing. But being able to handle the puck, the hand-eye coordination is unbelievable. Guys who get into fights, it’s unbelievable. I like watching the skills competition. When these guys are playing, they bring so much life into the game.”
It definitely will be fun to see Holland — who has quickly become one of the more entertaining players in the Pirates clubhouse — at a Penguins game, provided they’re not playing the Blue Jackets ... and provided he pitches well enough to make the club.
Thus far, that appears possible for Holland, who has looked solid during his side sessions and live batting practice.
There was plenty of movement on Holland’s sinker and his breaking pitches, especially his slider. The next step, of course, will be pitching in games and making those results count.
“I have to make the team first,” Holland said. “My intentions are to continue to get things where they need to be because I have to show up every single time.
“Everything feels good. I’m in a good place. There’s a good group of guys here. We’re having a lot of fun, so that’s the main thing.”
That, of course, as well as hockey and Holland’s beloved Blue Jackets.