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Toronto Maple Leafs: Regular Season Defensive Pairing Predictions

By Carter Loewen

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends his net with the help of his teammates Justin Holl #3 and Rasmus Sandin #38 against Corey Perry #94 and Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends his net with the help of his teammates Justin Holl #3 and Rasmus Sandin #38 against Corey Perry #94 and Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Jake Muzzin, Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 21: Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs Defensive Pairing #2: Muzzin-Holl

Like the Rielly-Brodie pairing, this one should not come as a surprise to anyone.

Muzzin and Holl (or as I like to call the beard and the flow) are the Leafs shutdown D. With a total of 178 blocks, 183 hits, and a couple of booming shots from the point, these two come to play – and play hard.

Even though last season was Justin Holls second full-time season with the Leafs, the 2020-21 season served as a coming-out party for him. Although sort of awkward to watch, Holl gets the job done by using his size to cut off defenders and being physical. Let us not forget, most nights he likely will be the only right-handed shot on the Leafs defense – a commodity the Leafs need.

Last season Holl finished with a total of 20 points in 55 games, and that came along with finishing second in team hits (82) and blocks (84).

As far as Jake Muzzin goes, he is all beard and there is nothing to complain about there. He finished with 27 points in 53 games and was first in team hits (121) and blocks (94) last season. It was devastating when the Leafs lost Muzzin for the last game of the Montreal series.

Neither of the two gives anything to anyone in the corners or in front of the net and they are never afraid to let a bomb rip for the point – in fact, I wouldn’t mind if they did a little more often.

This pairing, like the one previous, is one that can be used in any situation and is Keefes go-to on the penalty kill. They have the will and the know-how to shut down just about any line in the NHL.

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