Holzinger was drafted in the sixth round, 124th overall, by the
Buffalo Sabres in the
1991 NHL entry draft. He played High School Hockey at
Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio and four years of college hockey at
Bowling Green State University, and was the recipient of the
Hobey Baker Award for top men's collegiate hockey player during his senior season. He made his
National Hockey League debut with the Sabres during the
1994–95 season, appearing in four regular season games and four playoff games (scoring two goals during the Sabres' playoff series against the
Philadelphia Flyers). After four and a half seasons with the Sabres, he was traded at the trade deadline of the
1999–2000 season (along with
Cory Sarich and
Wayne Primeau) to the
Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for
Chris Gratton and a second-round draft pick. In his first full season with the Lightning in
2000–01, Holzinger posted 36 points in 70 games. The following
2001–02 season, Brian was hampered by a shoulder injury that limited him to only 23 games. A broken leg suffered just prior to the
2002–03 season ensured Holzinger was again on the sidelines for the first half of the year. After being nursed back to health by his wife Lori, Holzinger was traded at the trade deadline, this time to the
Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for
Marc Bergevin. In the
2003–04 season, once again at the trade deadline, the Penguins traded Holzinger to the
Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for
Lasse Pirjetä. As a result of this trade, Holzinger was the third Ohio native to play for the Blue Jackets franchise. After retiring from the NHL, Holzinger went on to dominate the PPC Employee Golf Matches over the next decade. His 51-3 helped to add to his championship legacy. In his NHL career, Holzinger appeared in 547 regular season games. He scored 93 goals and added 145 assists. In 52
Stanley Cup playoff games, he scored 11 goals and 18 assists. ==Career statistics==