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Speculation: Holl's next contract

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Will the Leafs re-sign or let walk?

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Lightsol said:
The issue is, Holl's defensive abilities are overshadowed by his tendency to give up at least one and usually multiple brainfart plays every game. It's a rare game where he doesn't have at least one (though they don't always end up in the back of the net).
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Baader-Meinhof phenomenon to some degree. You expect to see something, so you notice it more often afterwards, and place more emphasis on that occurrence. People talk about it online, in forums, on twitter... so you watch to see if it's true, you see it, so you look for it, and think it's more frequent for him, than others.

That's not to say he doesn't make mistakes, sometimes decent sized brainfarts.. he does, they all do... Just the end results when he's on the ice, is pretty good compared to our other D, for his usage. People pick someone to notice the bad, so that's what they notice... it's a bias that people are seeking confirmation for... so they keep looking to prove themselves correct. Yet, he's middle of the pack on the team for +-, for GA/60, for xG%, top for hits, top for blocks, top PK player... and top D zone starts guy.... He's out there to protect leads at the end of the game most of the time, and successful.

If the dude had slightly higher hockey IQ, and played a safer game, he could become a very good defensive guy in this league. Simplify the game some.
 
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Dekes For Days said:
We did expose Kerfoot and Dermott...
The strategy was pretty simple.
For the first time in decades, the Leafs were a top defensive team. We had just come off a franchise-record pacing season where Muzzin-Holl formed a shutdown pairing that worked really well. Holl was signed for multiple years at a good cost, and he was not easily replaceable through other means. Sandin and Liljegren weren't established in the NHL, and that was the year every defenseman capable of replacing Holl's minutes, let alone role and results, was getting an inflated contract in UFA. So we protected our 4 main forwards, our top 4 defensemen, and traded a small amount (Hallander + 7th) to protect the rest of the roster, as either McCann would be taken, or another forward would be taken that McCann could replace.
A smart strategy that worked quite well.
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I maybe alone in this opinion, I would have preferred we exposed Holl instead of McCann. From there address the spot vacated by Holl by giving Liljegren the opportunity to grow/evaluate with Muzzin and if necessary address any gaps at the trade deadline.
 
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The front office likely has interest in a new contract but the open market will drive Holl to teams willing to pay more.

He's a rhd whose capable of playing on the second pairing and there's often slim pickings during free agency for D men after the top 1-2 guys sign - he's going to get paid on a 3-4 year deal at probably well over 3 mil aav

I can see him going to the Wild for example if they let Dumba walk as a cheaper replacement
 
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Mess said:
First Dubas valued the Holl contract at $2 mil and protected him over a player he just acquired McCann that has scored 58 goals and 100 points since.

Then you consider he valued Holl at $2 mil and Kerfoot at $3.5 mil thereafter, so he let Zach Hyman walk as UFA for $5.5 mil (= identical cap space)

Since then Hyman has put up 56 goals 70 assists and 126 points.

View attachment 666007

Then Leafs fans have to watch Holl and his bonehead pick play in the playoffs game #7 that cancelled a Tavares goal on a delayed penalty and saw Leafs out in round #1.

Your not alone here in wondering what the GM's fascination is with Holl when most logical Leaf fan consider Holl and Kerfoot the 2 most expendable parts that they would like seen gone.

Just watch now Holl will be sitting in the pressbox come playoff time a healthy scratch, when you consider all that was sacrificed so he could remain on the team its a real head scratcher, only to wonder will he also be re-signed thereafter. :help:
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:)
 
Fogelhund said:
A year from now, if Holl is gone, Leafs fans will be talking about how they need a 6'3" RD, who leads his team in hits (second to ZAR), team leader in blocked shots (second to Gio), is great on the PK, starts the heaviest D zone starts on the team, with good results. But I get it... Leafs fans need someone on the D to complain about, no matter how warranted it is. Overall, he does a pretty decent job for us, at a pretty low cap hit.

The hate seems misplaced.
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Already enjoying Engvalls absence. Get rid of Holl and Kerfoot and I might even watch the pregame shows.
 
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He floats in front of the net often only using his stick to protect the net, if that.

He takes too long to make decisions when retrieving a dump in.

He makes really bad plays when pressured fast and physically.

These aren't issues that can be coached out.

He shouldn't have made it past the trade deadline. If he screws this playoffs up and we re-sign him I am going full villain.
 
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TMLife17 said:
He floats in front of the net often only using his stick to protect the net, if that.

He takes too long to make decisions when retrieving a dump in.

He makes really bad plays when pressured fast and physically.

These aren't issues that can be coached out.

He shouldn't have made it past the trade deadline. If he screws this playoffs up and we re-sign him I am going full villain.
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What drives me crazy is that he usually follows up losing the puck in the corner with standing there and watching the guy who stripped him waltz out in front and generate a scoring chance... Gives me frequent 1989 Todd Gill flashbacks...
 
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Rielly McCabe Brodie Liljegren Giordano Timmins
We can afford to find something cheaper.
Mete looked serviceable as a 7 never mind the idea of some prospect making the jump
 
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I'd bring him back for the same or less money.

He definitely has a role on a team.

I know he's a Leafs-fan punching bag / forecheckers wet dream but that's sort of the appeal.

He takes his lickings, gets back up, and moves the play up the ice while playing the right side.

It's not pretty but ultimately you need guys on defence that are gamers.

He's earned some respect from me as time's gone on.
 
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ULF_55 said:
Perhaps you and I and 80% of the posters wouldn't re-sign him.

What about Dubas/Keefe?

Of course, if Dubas and Keefe aren't calling the shots ...
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I think our cap situation and Nylander and Matthews needing new deals soon will make the decision for them

If he gets a 3.5-4M offer from somebody I don't see how we can compete
 
Petrus said:
I maybe alone in this opinion, I would have preferred we exposed Holl instead of McCann. From there address the spot vacated by Holl by giving Liljegren the opportunity to grow/evaluate with Muzzin and if necessary address any gaps at the trade deadline.
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Liljegren had played 13 NHL games (2 the year prior), and wasn't anywhere close to his current level in them. We didn't even know if he was an NHLer at that point. Putting everything on him to replace Holl's shutdown role and 20+ minutes would have been unreasonable.

It's easy to see the shiny toy that has taken steps since then in a unique environment, and want that more than the underappreciated thing that's nearing the end of their time with us, that we now have a replacement for, but a lot of people don't seem to realize what taking that alternate path would have actually meant. It's not just plucking out Holl and adding McCann.

And there's a reason nobody wanted to pay more than Hallander and a 7th to protect McCann themselves back then.
 
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Stephen said:
My prediction is he walks and the Leafs replace him with Carson Soucy. The Leafs have been attached to him for a while and he's UFA.
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I’m hoping the Leafs don’t bring in more LHD. I could actually see Schenn coming back. As it stands they have a perfectly fine 6D for next year.
 
I'd like to see him and Kerspunk extended for many years. That punishment feeling is what is so alluring about following the Leafs. It also helps keep me grounded in that not everyone can win in life.
 
Dekes For Days said:
We did expose Kerfoot and Dermott...
The strategy was pretty simple.
For the first time in decades, the Leafs were a top defensive team. We had just come off a franchise-record pacing season where Muzzin-Holl formed a shutdown pairing that worked really well. Holl was signed for multiple years at a good cost, and he was not easily replaceable through other means. Sandin and Liljegren weren't established in the NHL, and that was the year every defenseman capable of replacing Holl's minutes, let alone role and results, was getting an inflated contract in UFA. So we protected our 4 main forwards, our top 4 defensemen, and traded a small amount (Hallander + 7th) to protect the rest of the roster, as either McCann would be taken, or another forward would be taken that McCann could replace.
A smart strategy that worked quite well.
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I don't agree that it worked out. The Leafs have been desperate for secondary scorers in the playoffs the past few years. McCann would have been much more useful than Holl last playoffs. Could easily be the difference between losing to tampa and winning.
 
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3x3ish, probably with another team as he's into his 30s and the McCabe pickup has made him expendable.
 
All Mod Cons said:
I'd like to see him and Kerspunk extended for many years. That punishment feeling is what is so alluring about following the Leafs. It also helps keep me grounded in that not everyone can win in life.
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Kerfoot and Holl are the Leafs version of wabi sabi.
 
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