Toronto Maple Leafs: The Improbable Rise of Justin Holl

The surprising play of Justin Holl has been one of the best stories this season for the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs are able to pull themselves out of their funk and make the 2019-20 postseason, they will owe a major debt to Justin Holl.

Last season, Holl spent 71 games as a healthy scratch before finally getting his chance as an NHL regular this season at 27 years old. As Holl has proven lately, you can’t keep a good man down.

This season, Holl has looked noticeably composed under pressure, strong on pucks, and a prototype of the big, stable defender that Leafs fans have been clamoring for.

His play has taken yet another step forward under Sheldon Keefe’s possession-focused style of play. After Tyson Barrie was forced to leave Saturday night’s game with an injury resulting from a blocked shot, Holl stepped up and logged over 26 minutes of ice time, a career-high.

Holl’s puck skills, seamless transition play, and ability to lead the rush were on full display. Not only did he look comfortable in his increased role, he was clearly the Leafs best defender, earning him second star honours.

This season, when Holl is on the ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs are getting nearly 54% of the shot-attempts, 52% of the shots, 52% of the scoring chances and 56% of the goals.  (naturalstattrick.com).

What Comes Next?

Holl’s play brings new questions: What can his role be going forward? If Tyson Barrie remains sidelined, can Holl play top-4 minutes regularly?

Based on his current performance, one could argue that Holl is ready to play at least 20 minutes per night, something he has only done twice in 45 games at the NHL level.

Holl could be an ideal candidate to take a larger responsibility on the penalty kill, based on his strong defensive instincts, long stick, and mobility.

It could also relieve some of the pressure on Cody Ceci, who currently ranks 10th in the NHL in shorthanded ice time, and Morgan Rielly, who often struggles to prevent passes through the slot when the Leafs are short-handed.

Although Holl still needs to prove that he can succeed consistently in a larger role, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be wise to bet on Holl’s continued progression and sign him to a contract through next season at the earliest opportunity.

Defensive options with Holl’s stability and low price point will be a necessity moving forward, but they will be few and far in between on the open market.

Clearly, Justin Holl’s perseverance is beginning to pay off with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as he continues to break new ground in his NHL career.