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Toronto Maple Leafs: Where Does Justin Holl Fit In?

By D.J. Dell Rock

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 1: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 1, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Avalanche 8-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 1: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 1, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Avalanche 8-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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One of the Toronto Maple Leafs whipping boys in recent memory has been Justin Holl, but why?

Most likely it’s just a tendency of some fans to need someone to blame. Historically, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have embarrassed themselves with their undeserving targets of scorn.

Jake Gardiner, Larry Murphy, Brian McCabe, and Todd Gill were all excellent, under-appreciated members of the Leafs that fans turned on.

You can now add Justin Holl to the list of players done wrong by Leafs fans.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Justin Holl

His Past

Since being called up to the big leagues, after capturing a Calder Cup in the 2017-2018 season. Holl has slotted in nicely and has been a top four defenseman on an NHL contender for serval years now. 

In his early years with the club he was paired with other rookie defender Travis Dermott, and as the he matured in later seasons, Holl found himself apart of the Leafs second pair. This secondary defensive line also referred to as the shut-down pair consisted of the aforementioned Holl and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Jake Muzzin.

The pair proved to work exceptionably well for the Maple Leafs, with the two logging big-time minutes and were trusted to shut down top teams when holding late game leads.

Today

Fast forward to this current season, things are not looking up for Justin Holl. He is being ragged on by fans and media time-and-time again. He chokes up the puck frequently in both zones, he is constantly being caught flat-footed and worst of all he is pinching up in the play without reason.

He may not deserve a razzing, but he is not putting up the numbers that he has in the past. So far this year, when Holl is on the ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs have less puck possession, attempt fewer shots, and get fewer scoring chances and goals than they allow.

This year Holl has been paired about evenly with Brodie and Giordano.  Brodie is a top pairing defender, and even with Holl, they are successful.  Giordano is older and has declined quite a bit.  He and Holl are way too slow to be effective and the numbers show they are not effective at all.

You would think that Gio is providing him with some defensive stability, but that isn’t the case.  The two vets have combined to post a horrible 38% Expected Goals Rating (all stats naturalstatrick.com).

How Holl can prove to be serviceable for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Right now there is no point in trading Holl as he is one of the Leafs only right-handed options with any size.  He may not be as good as he was with Muzzin, but he’s still a solid depth piece who we know can play better.

Let’s face it there really is not many better right-handed options out there at the 2 million dollar cap-hit.  Holl needs to play outside of the top-four, that’s no surprise, he belongs on the third pair and occasionally the PK.

Holl needs to be in a reduced role alongside someone who is defensively responsible and will allow him to make his major mistakes.

Next. Way Better Than You Think. dark

LeafsNation shouldn’t throw in the towel on a guy we only have a couple months left of, let’s make the best of this situation as it has the potential to bring this Leaf blueline upside.

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