Holl stays patient, waiting for his turn with Leafs
For Justin Holl, there’s only one way to go as he waits to make his 2018-19 regular-season debut.
It involves the high road for the Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, who has been a healthy scratch for the first nine games.
“I wanted to be in the mix, I want to play,” an upbeat Holl said of his expectations when he earned a spot on the Leafs roster coming out of training camp.
“That’s something I don’t have control over. That’s all I can really say. I’m not angry at the coaching staff or anything like that, I’m not angry at what’s going on. At the same time, I am waiting for my opportunity and I’m ready to go.”
When Holl does get in, he will attempt to continue his own little goal-scoring streak. Leafs fans know that in his only two NHL games last season, Holl scored against the New York Islanders and then the New York Rangers.
There’s depth on defence in the organization, something Holl keeps in mind as he tries to stay sharp in practices.
“It’s frustrating in a sense because I would rather be playing games,” Holl said.
“As a competitor you want to be in every game and be part of the team, so it’s something I want to do. But I understand that they have a different plan and at this point, I’m just trying to work hard every day and be ready to go when I get the call.
“I know how it goes. In this business there are so many things you can control.”
TAVARES REMEMBERS LATE ISLANDERS OWNER
Like many across the NHL, Leafs centre John Tavares was upset to learn on Sunday about the passing of New York Islanders minority owner Charles Wang.
When Tavares was chosen first overall by the Islanders in 2009 in Montreal, Wang was the club’s majority owner.
“Really sad to hear,” Tavares said. “When I was drafted there, he really welcomed me with open arms, me and my family, and helped me feel right at home on the Island in my first couple of years.
“He cared deeply about the team and the community there. He invested a lot of time, a lot of resources into helping the Islanders the best he could.
“From supporting the team, giving us the best chance we could to win, to some of the charity initiatives that he did and a lot of the team and family functions he had — we are all very appreciative of that and very sad to hear of his loss.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Leafs coach Mike Babcock hadn’t seen the Saturday night post-game video of Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette, who wore a full bull’s-head mask when he took questions from reporters. Laviolette told his team that if it won both games of a backto-back set in Alberta, he would submit to a demand from his players (within reason, we assume). So there he was, all decked out after a 3-0 win in Edmonton after a 5-3 victory in Calgary.
“Do anything to win, won’t you?” Babcock said with a smile. “I’ve had bets with my teams, lots of them, but none that I had to wear a bull’s mask for.” …
When Morgan Rielly scored in the third period against St. Louis on Saturday night, the Leafs avoided being shut out in consecutive home games. That has not happened since January 2009, though the Leafs’ shutout losses to Nashville and Carolina on Jan. 13 and Jan. 19, respectively, sandwiched a couple of road games …
Goalie Garret Sparks and forwards Auston Matthews, Patrick Marleau, Kasperi Kapanen, Mitch Marner and Connor Brown stayed on the ice on Sunday long after their teammates had departed, playing an intense game of rebound.
“It’s one of the most dangerous rebound lineups ever assembled, I would have to think,” Sparks said. “It’s fun to be able to get into games like that and be able to challenge yourself and challenge them.”