Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 Defenseman, Goalie, Management Grades

Justin Holl

OK look, it isn’t true that I love  Justin Holl just because we have the exact same haircut.  I mean, it helps, but that’s not the only reason.

How can you not be a fan of a guy who doesn’t play an NHL game until seven years and six different leagues after he’s drafted?  How can you not cheer for a guy who blossomed after the age where the vast majority of players “are what they are” ?

I am glad the Leafs protected him in the expansion draft because he is one of my favorite players.  Do I think it was the right hockey move? Depends on the odds of Jared McCann being a star, and I don’t know what those odds are.

The overall results are not that great (his JFresh Player Card only ranks him as better than just under half of NHL defenseman) but I think he may be slightly underrated in this format.

Hi 20 points put him on a 30 point pace with no power-play time and playing some of the toughest minutes in hockey. With Holl on the ice, the Leafs got 54% of the goals and were expected to get 55% of them.

Where Holl maybe loses points in his overall rating is on high-danger chances – he’s the only Leafs regular who allowed more high-danger chances than the team got with him on the ice.

Overall though, he’s a 6’4 monster who shoots right and might get better.  At the very worst, he is a great partner for Jake Muzzin.