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Maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Keep Justin Holl?

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 31: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 31, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Jets 7-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 31: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 31, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Jets 7-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl’s name has been involved in many rumors this offseason, but maybe the team should keep him.

Everyone has talked about how the Toronto Maple Leafs need to improve the right-side of their defense, but maybe the solution is already there? As it currently stands, the Leafs defense will look something like this next year:

  • Morgan Rielly – TJ Brodie
  • Mark Giordano – Timothy Liljegren
  • Jake Muzzin – Justin Holl
  • Rasmus Sandin (TBD)

If Sandin resigns, the clear option is to trade Muzzin, not Holl.

At $5.625M, Muzzin is not as valuable as Sandin at around $2-2.5M, so the team could save some money by shipping him out. Despite being a veteran with two Stanley Cup ring’s, Muzzin’s health is a huge question mark and he’s someone the team can’t rely on in big games, unfortunately.

It  is also worth noting that last year, when Muzzin and Holl were separated, Muzzin’s numbers went down, while Holl’s stayed the same.   It used to be obvious that Muzzin was carrying Holl, but now the evidence at least suggests the opposite is true.

As a result, Holl’s $2M contract to play in the bottom-six is great value.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Should Keep Justin Holl

It wasn’t long ago that Holl’s contract was looked at as one of the best on the team. After signing a three-year $2M AAV deal, Holl’s first season under that contract was brilliant.

He struggled somewhat last year, but he also was put in a situation that he didn’t belong.

Holl can obviously play in the top four (he has done so for two years and has good numbers) but ideally he’d be better on the third pairing.  With Liljegren and Sandin continuing to get better every day, that will naturally shift Holl back into a bottom-six role, where he belongs, which is fine.

One comparable to Holl is Cody Ceci, who currently plays with Edmonton. Would you rather have Ceci at $3.25M or Holl at $2M?

The answer is Holl, obviously.

Holl may not be much of an offensive defenseman, but at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, he has great size and can be a reliable force in front of the net. He’s not going to win a Norris Trophy anytime soon, but with one-year left on his contract, can the team really find a better option than him right now?

As long as Holl can stay on the third-pairing and play between 12-15 minutes per night with some penalty-kill time in there, then he’s a valuable asset to the team. You don’t need him to play anymore than that and if goes up the line-up, he’ll be exposed.

Next. Imagine the Leafs Signed Nazem Kadri?. dark

However, at $2M, stuck on the third-pair, he’s in a good position. If things go sideways for him to start the season, then the team can look to move him and promote either Victor Mete or Jordie Benn, but if he’s in his natural role, Holl won’t hurt this team at all.

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