Whatever Happened to ex-Maple Leafs Blueliner Justin Holl?

Few Toronto Maple Leafs players have ever divided opinion like Justin Holl. He was a solid enough right-shot defenceman. When he played with Jake Muzzin, and both were in top form, they were a steady shutdown pairing. But when Holl’s contract ended at the close of the 2022-23 season, he was gone.

Whatever happened to Holl, and why might he have gotten a bad rap with the Maple Leafs?

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Holl Became a Lightning Rod for the Ire of Maple Leafs Fans

Justin Holl was never much of a mystery player. He was a right-shot defenceman who played hard minutes, made some very visible mistakes, and somehow became the lightning rod for just about every defensive breakdown in Toronto for a few seasons. When Holl messed up, it was loud. You noticed it. You remembered it. And Toronto fans rarely forget.

People remember Holl a certain way, but that’s only part of the story. For a while, especially when Muzzin was in his prime, the pair handled their business. Tough assignments, shutting down opponents, finishing games—they didn’t cheat coverage. When Muzzin went down or played hurt, Holl’s game sagged. Without that stabilizing presence, his weaknesses showed. That happens to a lot of defencemen, although playing in Toronto rarely grants a player any space at all to make mistakes.

That was Holl’s story. When he played well, few noticed him. When he made mistakes, everyone saw him.

Holl Did What He Was Supposed to Do for the Maple Leafs

Here’s the thing about Holl. When you didn’t notice him, he was usually playing well. And for long stretches, especially later in his Maple Leafs tenure, that happened more than fans will admit. He wasn’t flashy. He didn’t run a power play. But he skated, defended, leaned on people, and survived hard minutes. That has value—even if it doesn’t trend on social media.

The Maple Leafs understood that. Kyle Dubas didn’t treat Holl like a top-pairing blueliner. At the same time, he wasn’t a disposable extra either. He paid him like what he was: a hard-working, $2-million defenceman. Not a bargain nor an albatross. Just fair value.

That’s why Holl was protected in the Seattle expansion draft, even at the cost of losing Jared McCann. McCann, as Maple Leafs fans will remind everyone, went on to star with the Kraken. With hindsight, the decision to lose McCann now looks painful. But at the time, it made sense. Holl was coming off one of his best seasons, had proven he could handle late-game defensive work, and played a position that teams covet.

Holl Brought Value to the Maple Leafs “Room”

There’s also the human side. Holl was well-liked by his teammates. Teammates named him in those goofy post-practice clips—best laugh, weirdest snacks, best to sit with on a plane. That’s the kind of stuff that matters more than fans like to admit. Teams aren’t spreadsheets. They’re ecosystems.

Looking back now, it’s easy to say the Maple Leafs got it wrong. Maybe, they did. But it’s also easy to forget what Holl actually gave them: stability, minutes, and competence in a role few players want and fewer fans appreciate.

Where’s Holl Playing These Days?

At 33, Holl is in the last season of his contract with the Red Wings. He cleared waivers and is now playing in Grand Rapids. In 22 games, he has two goals and eight points. Unless a team suddenly needs a right-handed bottom-pairing defenseman—which seems unlikely—this might be the final chapter of a career that has always hovered on the edge.

And yes—almost as an afterthought—he was a right-shot defenceman. In this league, that alone keeps you employed a long time. Sometimes, the player fans love to hate is just doing his job.

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