Toronto Maple Leafs expected to deal veteran defenseman in the coming days
Justin Holl has become somewhat of a controversial topic when it comes to Toronto Maple Leaf fans. More often than not, it seems as if he is either considered a useful top-four player, or a guy who shouldn't even be in an NHL lineup. In reality, it's probably somewhere in the middle of that. Holl has some upside but also his limits too.
Holl is absent from Leafs practice today and it has some fans jumping for joy thinking a trade is coming down the pipe.
Holl doesn't provide much offence or flash much skill but he will use his body effectively and can move the puck at an NHL level. At 5v5 last year, Holl posted a CF% of 52% and an xGF% of 54.69%. These ranked seventh and fourth among eight Leafs defencemen respectively.
Holl has deficiencies in his game but there's no doubt he's an NHL level defenceman. Then why do so many Leaf fans want him out the door?
The answer is depth and cost. The Leafs are right up against the cap, and for all the narratives of their defence, they are actually pretty deep down the right side. T.J. Brodie and Timothy Liljegren play the right side and they have also signed Jordie Benn and Victor Mete who both can play the right as well.
Holl might be better than the latter two names but he also makes $2 million against the cap this season. Mete and Benn are both on $750,000 deals and saving the $1,250,000 would mean the Leafs could keep an extra player on their roster all year.
The trade that so many in Leafs' Nation want, might not be happening today but it does feel like a move is just around the corner.
Update: Holl's absence today has been attributed to food poisoning.
| POLL | ||
Out of the following names who has the greatest chance of not being on the Leafs' roster for Game 1? | ||
| Justin Holl | 47 | 23.2 % |
| Wayne Simmonds | 124 | 61.1 % |
| Nick Robertson | 16 | 7.9 % |
| Alex Kerfoot | 16 | 7.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
