Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson calls Holden a teammate he will remember for the rest of his life.

When the Ottawa Senators season came to a close back in the spring, the entire team made themselves available to the media. That included the uber-classy Nick Holden, who had just been told that very morning the club would not be re-signing him. 

While it was disappointing to hear it officially, Holden said back in April that he understood the decision.

"I do," Holden said. "I've been around business and hockey. I've been around a lot of teams and I know the amount of (prospects) that are coming... Is it disappointing for me? Yeah. This is where things are going to get fun with this team. And so it would have been fun to be there (this season) to help the group still. But, yeah, I understand."

Holden was loved in the Sens' dressing room – a heart-and-soul guy that younger players like Jake Sanderson leaned on for support.

It’s that very skill that won the 36-year-old a job today with the Vegas Golden Knights, but not as a player. Holden announced he’s retiring to join Vegas' Player Development staff, with a focus on working with the organization's defense prospects. 

It’s almost exactly what the equally classy former Senator Mark Borowiecki decided to do this summer, taking a similar position with Nashville.

Holden had 52 goals and 178 points over 654 career games divvied up between the Blue Jackets, Avalanche, Rangers, Bruins, Golden Knights and, finally, the Senators. He also had a 17 points in 55 playoff games.

Sanderson, who's just starting his career (and got a wee pay bump a few days ago), says he will never forget Holden for everything he did for him during his rookie season.

"Right from when I came to training camp, (Holden and Travis Hamonic) took me under their wing," Sanderson said back in April.

"Those will be two guys I'm going to remember for the rest of my life."