Griffin76
Registered User
He's actually one of the best 1 on 1 guys in the league. There is a stat for it and hes in the top 10%. He uses his stick very effectively to keep the puck on the outside. He tends to throw pucks up the middle a little too often. Not sure why exactly, but both Reilly and Timmins do this a little too often as well.
Where he lacks is not enough push back in puck battles and he for whatever reason will not use his stick to clear the blue paint and leave forwards with green, purple, and black ribs, upper arms, lower backs and hip bones. That said almost no Leaf defenders in a very long while have used that tool in a long while. In fact currently it's only Gio who will do so occasionally.
If the Leafs go out and get anything, a crease clearing bulldozer would be job #1.
Chychrun ain't that guy, but Luke Schenn might be.
In a expanded deal it could be Schenn and.....
I'd be alright with Schenn over Holl as the number 6 really. Holl's biggest problem is playing the puck about 10ft up the boards from the corner. As soon as he turns to retreat behind the net he's done. This is where his luck kicks in though and his partner bails him out, the goalie does or the opposition just make a horrible play. Timmins and Rielly make the same play way less but it always ends up in the back of the net.
I'm fine with Holl as a #6. And this is coming from someone that literally would've accepted a bag of pucks for him after last year's playoffs when he was put in over Liljegren. If he's any higher I expect another early exit.