Leafs re-sign Justin Holl

Just hours after the Matt Martin trade to the Island, the Leafs are active again and have signed one of their restricted free agents for this summer.

While they were able to shed $2.5 million worth of cap space earlier, they have already signed one of their potential bottom-pairing defensemen for just over a fifth of Martin’s contract. How about that for spending their money right?

The two-year deal, coming in at an AAV of $675k, give both Holl and the Leafs the option to see exactly what the player can do and where he can fit in the lineup on a regular basis.

Unlike his previous contract, this is a one-way deal for Holl. Meaning that he will be making the same salary if he is playing in the NHL or AHL. A positive reward for a player that has risen from just being a Marlies signing.

This season Holl played 60 games with the Marlies, scoring 7 goals and 28 points. He also made his NHL debut, scoring two goals in two games – an incredible feat really.

At 26-years-old, Holl is arguably in his prime right now and he might just show what he can do with the Leafs this season. With the dire situation they are in currently on the right side of the blueline, Holl (a right-handed shot) might find a spot open for him to take. Perhaps he will be on the bottom pair with his Marlies teammate Travis Dermott.

As Chris Johnston has pointed out, Holl was eligible to become a UFA in the 2019 offseason, so this contract buys the Leafs one year of Holl’s UFA eligibility. Depending on how or where he plays this year, this contract can turn out to be an extreme bargain.

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