Holland: Trade to Coyotes was 'a sigh of relief'

Peter Holland is glad to have moved on from a tough stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 25-year-old was dealt to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday after spending the majority of this season in the press box due to a failure to gel with the team.

"It's a bit of a sigh of relief," Holland said, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "Obviously, things weren't going as I wanted them to in Toronto this season. … I just don't think I fit in their plans. Honestly, I'm happy that we both agreed upon that and we went our separate ways and no hard feelings obviously. But excited to start this new chapter now."

The Coyotes provide Holland a unique opportunity to get back on the ice, as the team's plagued by injuries and sits last in the league entering play Saturday with a 8-13-5 record.

"He's been a good stabilizing force in any position he's been used in," general manager John Chayka said. "So he's coming into a group here where we've got a lot of injuries and some underperformance, and certainly he's a guy that will get some opportunity. Now's the time to make the most of it.

"If this doesn't work out here, then it's not a good position for him to be in. He should come in motivated and incentivized to play the best hockey of his career, and hopefully we can benefit from that."

Holland will hopefully get the opportunity to add to his lone assist in eight games this season.