One of the least heralded players in the Leafs organization is back for another year. Justin Holl, who has spent the entirety of his time in the system with the Toronto Marlies, has signed a 1-year contract that keeps him away from arbitration.

Holl, who was originally drafted 54th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, was signed by the Marlies ahead of the 2015/16 season after four years of playing at the University of Minnesota and a successful first year with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL. Since then, he’s been a mainstay on the right side of the point, putting up 14 goals and 37 assists over the span of 157 games. Holl was particularly valuable to the Marlies last season, as he was their lone regular right-handed defenceman.

While that changes this year with Vincent LoVerde’s signing and potential shuffling up top, his presence will remain valuable to the team next year. It’s worth nothing that he’ll have to clear waivers in the fall to join the Marlies, though the odds of him being claimed remain low.

Holl will make $675,000 at the NHL level on this contract, a cut from his $742,500 ELC that had potential $182,500 in potential performance bonuses. However, he gets a steep AHL raise, pocketing $175,000. All things considered, it keeps things about even to the previous deal, where he earned $70,000 in the AHL but had a $92,500 signing bonus. Still, when you’re riding the AHL buses, even a $7,500 raise is useful, especially when there’s potential for more in the event of a call-up.





