After dropping three straight games, New York opted to shake things up on Monday when it recalled Holland and assigned Boo Nieves to the AHL.
The 27-year-old has had an interesting season to say the least. After signing a two-year contract with Montreal, Holland was dealt to New York on Nov. 30 in exchange for forward Adam Cracknell.
Since then, he's been Hartford's most productive forward with five goals and nine assists in 16 games with the Wolf Pack, ultimately leading to his recall.
"A good two-way player. [He] tries to play a 200-foot game," coach Alain Vigneault said of Holland. "[He's] been having some real good moments in Hartford. [Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge] spoke very highly of him as far as his work ethic and his understanding of the way to play. We made a little more there and hopefully he can come here tonight and contribute for us."
Holland, who has spent him with Anaheim, Toronto and Arizona during his 243-game NHL career, said he doesn't want to try and do too much, but rather stick to the game that got him to this point.
"My game. They traded for me for a reason. They liked what they saw in my game. I've built some confidence this year in the American League, so just trying to bring that up to this level."
Holland said the Rangers' management group told him upon his arrival in November that it had a need for centers, and while his deployment in New York took about six weeks, that time in Hartford was a positive for the native of Toronto.
"It was kind of nice to build some confidence in the American League," said Holland, who is expected to start the game centering Michael Grabner and Jesper Fast. "You don't get on the scoresheet as much in the NHL as you do in the American League. It's kind of nice to feel important again. I'm just trying to bring that confidence up here tonight."