Could Red Wings Arrange Holl Homecoming?

The Detroit Red Wings are shopping defenseman Justin Holl. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the lookout for a right-hand shot defender.

The Leafs know Holl well. Is there a chance that he could return to his previous NHL haunt?

Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman was floating this possibility during the latest edition of his 32 Thoughts podcats with co-host Jeff Marek.

Friedman: “Toronto is looking for a right shot defender, you know who’s available?”

Marek: “Justin Holl?”

Friedman: “Yup”#leafsforever

— Hockey Patrol (@HockeyPatrol) March 4, 2024

Holl left the Leafs after six seasons last summer. He would sign a three-year, $10.2 million pact with the Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent.

To suggest Holl’s first Detroit season hasn’t gone swimmingly would be like saying that the Titanic hit a speed bump on its maiden journey. Through 35 games, Holl shows just five assists next to his name on the stats sheet.

As the Red Wings ready to take the ice in Colorado on Wednesday facing the Avalanche, Holl has become a spare part for the winged wheel.

Since Ben Chiarot was returing from injury, Olli Maatta has become a regular with Shayne Gostisbehere in Detroit’s third pairing. Holl is the odd man out. He’s been a healthy scratch for the past 11 games.

Red Wings Seeking Defensive Upgrade

At the same time, NHL sources are indicating that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman desires an upgrade on his defense. He is working to be adding a rearguard with some snarl to the Detroit mix. Yzerman will need to move a defenseman out to make this happen and Holl is the leading candidate to be going.

Certainly, Leafs fans aren’t at all enamored with the thought of Holl returning to the Buds’ blueline. He was never a fan favorite, to put it mildly.

Well then! I don’t normally get aroused by stat sheets, but that looks nice. I listened to Friedman talk about bringing back Holl today and I was physically sic!

— Ryan Currie (@Swampdonkey17) March 5, 2024

Still, his numbers aren’t worthy of such venom. Holl was a double-digit plus player in each of his last four seasons with Toronto. He was good for 20 points in two of those four seasons. Over that same four-season span, Holl’s SAT% was 50.9.

His appeal to Toronto could be cost certainty. Tight to the salary cap, the Leafs will know exactly what they’ll be paying Holl for the next two seasons going forward. And certainly, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe is going to be quite familiar with Holl’s work. There would be less of an adjustment period for Holl to fit into Toronto’s system as opposed to someone new to the team.

Arizona, Anaheim and Chicago are other potential destinations being suggested for Holl.