Holtby didn't have a regular training camp and preseason last year as he tried to adapt to the Canucks. He said getting the chance to come to Texas, settle in, and go through the normal paces has been invigorating.
"I'm just trying to get back in there and get comfortable," Holtby said. "My strengths go well with the strengths of this team, and I think that's one thing that has been fun so far. The guys play very well.
"It's obviously different being on a new team," he added. "It's my first full camp not in Washington, so I'm just trying to get to know the guys and not step on anyone's toes and get your game going. It's been a fun challenge. I just try to show up at the rink and work as hard as I can."
That's been a trademark of Holtby's impression so far. He gets to the rink early, he puts the work in, and he's genuine in his desire to fit in.
"He works hard, he's the first guy on the ice," Bowness said. "He was out there early skating getting ready for today. He's a real pro. His work habits and his professionalism and his preparation. He's a real pro."
As for those teammates Holtby talked about, the Stars used a group of defensemen who could fill in the bottom pairing, and they were great. Joel Hanley had a goal and an assist, Andrej Sekera had an assist and logged 18:23, Alexander Petrovic logged 18:44 and had three hits and three blocked shots, and Andreas Borgman logged 16:50. It was a nice sign of what the Stars can do throughout the lineup.
"Hanley had a goal with Reggie [Sekera] down by the net," Bowness said. "Petrovic was good, Borgman was good, all our D were real good tonight. And that's pretty much (the Blues') team, and they were coming at us. We bent a little at times, but we didn't break, so very happy with all of the D."