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Toronto Maple Leafs: Justin Holl Could Make the Team

By David Scala

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 31: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs leaves the ice after warmup before the Leafs face the New York Islanders at the Air Canada Centre on January 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 31: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs leaves the ice after warmup before the Leafs face the New York Islanders at the Air Canada Centre on January 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Justin Holl will be given every opportunity to come into the Toronto Maple Leafs camp this upcoming season and secure a third pairing role.

When Justin Holl was called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs late in January 2018 to fill in as an injury replacement, I’m not quite sure Leafs Nation or even coach Mike Babcock knew the history they were about to witness in a span of two average back to back regular season games.

Holl’s first two games in the NHL couldn’t have gone any better, not even if he went back with Doc in a Delorean to do it all over again. In both games, Holl was given the luxury of playing alongside his former Marlies defence partner Travis Dermott….and it worked flawlessly.

Holl logged 16:30 in ice-time, had 2 blocks, a hit, 1 shot, and a goal….in his first career NHL game. Posting a remarkable 58.7 CF%, Holl was an offensive threat all game, along with his partner in crime Dermott. (65.5 CF%, 1G, 1A)

In Holl’s second NHL game he clocked in at 18:13, playing 1:43 more than his debut. With another fantastic offensive game at 55 CF%, Justin Holl did “Justin Holl”  things and scored his second NHL goal in as many games.

Sample Size Is The Enemy

After posting 17:22 ATOI, 2G, 1GWG, 2SOG, 2HIT, 3BLK, and 1GV in his first two NHL games (while making Toronto Maple Leaf history in the process), Holl was sent back down to the Toronto Marlies where he finished off the year as a Calder Cup Champion.

If you want to read more about the incredible Marlies run for the Calder Cup, check out the detailed article below!

Sample size is what hurts Holl when he is stacked up against comparable NHL competition, because he has only played two NHL games. It is safe to say though in those two games, he performed as well as he could have to earn himself a nice two-year contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With an AAV of $675,000, Holl is a cost-effective roster player who could become a more valuable asset to the team salary cap wise if he becomes a staple in the lineup. It is also worth noting that Holl is on a one-way contract, hinting he likely won’t be sent down unless a substancial defensive roster move is made.

Make It Out Of Camp Looking Strong

If Justin Holl wants to be a full-time NHL player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he has to come into camp looking like the best defenceman on the ice. This is what Holl has done his entire career though, roll with the punches and work his way to where he wants to be.

Holl was drafted 54th overall in 2010 by the Chicago Blackhawks, oddly enough the same round and draft year as his Calder Cup line-mates Martin Marincin and Calvin Pickard. Talk about a blast from the past with this draft scouting report!

Holl has had one of the most unusual routes to the NHL, and he isn’t ready to mail it in just yet. After an incredible Marlies Calder Cup run and Championship Title, Holl is set up to go into training camp this fall and really make a name for himself.

Next. Players the Leafs Should Trade For. dark

Justin Holl truly is an enigma. Nobody knows why he never got a chance to play a game in Chicago as a 2nd round pick, how he fell down to the ECHL for a single season, or how he turned Kyle Dubas’ head enough to bring him up to the Toronto Marlies. If anyone can surprise again, it’s Justin Holl.

Statistics provided by hockey-reference.com

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