Holl has mastered waiting game
Injuries give blue-liner chance to show he’s ready to be a regular
“Wait for your opportunity and be ready when it comes.”
Leafs defenceman Justin Holl says that a lot. The personable 27-year-old has been seldomused this season, outside of a string of six games the past two weeks due to injuries, and he’s adopted a catchphrase or two used by players with limited ice time.
But with a back injury to Jake Gardiner and a shoulder injury to Travis Dermott, Holl has gotten that opportunity. And he’s loving it.
“It’s tough going through the majority of the season playing two games, but it’s great getting in here, you know, contributing a little bit, get rolling and string a few games together,” Holl said Saturday morning.
The defencemen can tell you every manner of story or piece of advice on how to stay ready. He’s received a steady diet of practices, of course, but he also has a specialized routine on game days that is organized by assistant coaches D.J. Smith and Jim Hiller. Their morning skates include smartly planned drills and pure skating, all designed to maintain his skill sets and his conditioning.
“Yeah, yeah, I know the assistant coaches well,” Holl said. “I know the skills coaches real well, almost too well, but that’s how it goes.
“They do a good job of varying what we do on the ice, they work you just as hard when you’re scratched.”
Still, keeping a positive attitude has been the biggest challenge for Holl, who won an AHL championship with the Marlies last season.
Selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2010 draft, Holl has always been able to bank on his size — six-footthree and 210 pounds — but that asset is not as important as it used to be, especially on a team built on skating excellence and puck movement. The key for Holl is confidence, feeling good about his skill set.
That comes largely with playing. Holl feels his confidence has been returning the last couple of weeks, which should serve him well as the Leafs march toward the playoffs.
“For sure, the more you play, the more comfortable you get, and you get that confidence level going and trying to keep that going is a lot of fun,” he said.
It hasn’t all been smooth. Head coach Mike Babcock was referring to his blue line earlier in the week when he suggested the Leafs still had work to do improve their depth. Those comments came with Holl and either Martin Marincin or Igor Ozhiganov serving as the third defensive pairing, and after the Leafs had allowed 23 goals over a four-game stretch.
But Holl seems to have a positive attitude ironed into his psy- che. He isn’t in the same boat as, say, Frank Corrado, whose string of healthy scratches two seasons ago became a thing on social media and ultimately led to Corrado’s exit after he voiced his frustration.
Holl would be playing regularly if he were with the Marlies, but he needs to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL.
The fact that the Leafs won’t risk that is a sign they still believe in Holl. He’s signed through next season — the end of a two-year, $1.35-million deal — and should at least have a chance to earn more regular time next season.
Of course, there will be plenty of other challengers. The Leafs have an impressive collection of Swedish defencemen with the Marlies — Calle Rosen, Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren — who will be vying for playing time as well.
Holl remains appreciative of the opportunity he has now. If he’s learned anything from being a healthy scratch for so long, it’s how to stay positive.
“I’ve been conscious that everyone has their own problems, like their lines or putting up points or anything else … everyone has their thing that they’re worried about so no one cares about my problems,” Holl said. “But at the same time, they’ve all been good about it and supportive.”