Toronto Maple Leafs: Justin Holl Extension Is A Big Win
The Justin Holl extension is a pretty big win for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big step toward solidifying their blue line by re-signing defenseman Justin Holl to a team-friendly three-year, $6 million contract.
Holl, who’s cap hit will carry an annual average salary of $2 million, has been one of the biggest surprises on the Maple Leafs this season. Considered an afterthought in the summer, Holl has transformed from a press box regular to a key component on the team’s defense.
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Holl had been with the club the previous two years but managed to only get on the ice for a combined 13 games over that time. However, after 38 games this season, Holl has produced 11 points with a plus/minus rating of plus-11, and has seen his responsibilities continue to grow entering a top-four defensive role for the team.
Many viewed how previous coach Mike Babcock treated Holl as unfair. He’d go weeks, if not months, without playing a game only to be randomly thrown into the lineup. During those games the defenseman would look rusty and slow to catch up to the speed of the game, like anyone would who’d have long layoffs between games.
Entering the 2019-20 season, Holl was finally given an everyday role as a third-pairing defenseman. Once new coach Sheldon Keefe took over, Holl’s ice time continued to climb as he was averaging ice time in the low teens under Babcock to averaging just shy under 20 minutes under Keefe.
Keefe clearly has confidence in Holl after the time they spent together with the Toronto Marlies where Holl spent three seasons. The former second round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 has taken the long route to get to NHL stability having spent four seasons with the University of Minnesota, a season with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel before moving to the AHL’s Rockford Icehogs later that year and then signing with the Maple Leafs in 2016.
The two years of being a healthy scratch had many questioning if Holl was ever going to be an everyday NHLer but this wasn’t a situation that hadn’t burned the Maple Leafs in the past. Josh Leivo was in a similar situation where he couldn’t get the trust and support from Babcock before being shipped out of town a year ago. Leivo was acquired by the Vancouver Canucks where he’s fit in nicely as a third-line winger as he’s already broken his career high for points this season with 19 in only 36 games.
For a team desperate for support on the backend, Toronto couldn’t afford to let the defensive version of Leivo occur and instead they managed to find themselves a potential top-four defender. On top of this, getting Holl on such a team friendly cap hit of only $2 million could be massive as the team heads towards a summer of big decisions.
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Jake Muzzin, Tyson Barrie, and Cody Ceci are all free agents at the end of the season and with the Maple Leafs having limited cap space to begin with, Holl’s contract and on-ice performance could be a blessing that helps secure addition defensive support.