Justin Holl Bio
Justin Gunnar Holl is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League. Born on January 30, 1992, in Tonka Bay, Minnesota, Holl has built a reputation as a dependable, right-shooting defenseman since beginning his professional career in 2014. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 205 pounds, he combines size with skating ability, making him a steady presence on the blue line.
Holl first gained NHL attention as a second-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, and later carved out a memorable role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His career also includes time in the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies, where he contributed to a Calder Cup championship.
Early Life and Background
Justin Holl was raised in Tonka Bay, a small community on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. The state of Minnesota is widely recognized for producing high-level hockey talent, and Holl grew up immersed in that tradition. He attended Minnetonka High School from 2007 to 2010, where hockey was a central part of student life.
During his senior season at Minnetonka, Holl served as co-captain alongside future NHL defenseman Jake Gardiner and earned a place on the honor roll for his work in the classroom. On November 20, 2009, he signed a commitment agreement with the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota, securing his college path before his draft year. At the end of that senior season, Holl was recognized as a finalist for Minnesota Mr. Hockey, an annual award given to the top senior high school hockey player in the state.
Holl comes from a family that values both athletics and creative pursuits. His father, Jerry, is an author known for writing about a long-distance bicycle ride from Alaska to Mexico. Holl’s cousin, Mike Erickson, also played college hockey for the University of Minnesota and was selected 72nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Path to Hockey
Holl’s path to the NHL began in earnest when the Chicago Blackhawks selected him 54th overall in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Despite being drafted, he honored his prior commitment to play for the University of Minnesota, choosing to develop his game at the collegiate level before turning professional.
At the University of Minnesota, Holl majored in Finance at the Carlson School of Management while competing for the Golden Gophers. In his freshman season, he appeared in 25 games and tallied seven points, including one goal, a performance strong enough to earn him an invitation to the Team USA National Junior Evaluation Camp that August. Over the next two seasons, his role expanded, including occasional shifts at forward, and he was presented with the Gophers’ Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award for his steady contributions. In his senior year, he helped the Gophers qualify for the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four and scored a dramatic goal with 0.6 seconds remaining to beat North Dakota 2–1.
After completing his college career, Holl split the 2014–15 season between two of Chicago’s minor-league affiliates, the Indy Fuel of the ECHL and the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. He never signed an entry-level deal with the Blackhawks, and in 2015 he joined the Toronto Marlies of the AHL as a free agent, setting the stage for the next chapter of his career.
Justin Holl Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Justin Holl’s professional career began in the minor leagues. After finishing at the University of Minnesota, he skated for the Rockford IceHogs and the Indy Fuel during the 2014–15 season, adjusting to the speed and physical demands of pro hockey. In 2015, he signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, where he continued to refine his defensive game and contribute on the penalty kill.
On July 2, 2016, Holl signed an NHL entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, though he began the 2016–17 season back with the Marlies. That year he was named an alternate captain for the Marlies, a sign of the leadership qualities the organization saw in him.
Toronto Maple Leafs Breakthrough (2017–2023)
Holl’s NHL breakthrough came during the 2017–18 season. After being named to the 2018 AHL All-Star Game, he was recalled to the NHL on an emergency basis on January 31, 2018, replacing an ill Ron Hainsey. That night, against the New York Islanders, Holl scored his first NHL goal in a 5–0 win, becoming the first Maple Leafs defenseman to score in his NHL debut since 1978.
The very next game, on February 1 against the New York Rangers, Holl scored again, becoming the first Maple Leafs defenseman to record two goals in his first two NHL games and only the sixth defenseman in league history to score in each of his first two contests. After a brief return to the Marlies, Holl rejoined Toronto and helped the Toronto Marlies capture their first Calder Cup in 2018, recording five points in 20 playoff games.
On July 3, 2018, Holl signed a two-year, $1.35 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs. Following the firing of head coach Mike Babcock the next season, Holl earned a larger role on the Toronto blue line, often skating alongside Jake Muzzin and later Travis Dermott. On December 31, 2019, shortly before a game against his hometown Minnesota Wild, he signed a three-year contract extension that reflected his growing importance to the team.
Detroit Red Wings Era (2023–Present)
On July 1, 2023, Holl left Toronto as a free agent and signed a three-year, $10.4 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The deal signaled a fresh start and a top-four role for the veteran defenseman as Detroit continued its rebuild. He was expected to anchor the right side of the Red Wings’ defense and contribute to the team’s push back toward playoff contention.
Driving Style and Strengths
Holl is widely regarded as a steady, positionally sound defenseman who uses his 6-foot-3 frame effectively along the boards and in front of the net. His right-handed shot and calm puck-moving ability have made him a reliable partner on both the power play and penalty kill throughout his NHL career, and his college and AHL experience shaped him into a composed, two-way defender.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Holl’s signature moments, his back-to-back goal debut with the Maple Leafs in January 2018 stands out as one of the most remarkable opening stretches by a defenseman in modern NHL history. He also played a key role in the Toronto Marlies’ first Calder Cup that same spring and signed major contract extensions with both Toronto and Detroit, milestones that reflect his standing as a trusted top-four blueliner.
Justin Holl Career Wins
While defensemen are rarely measured purely by goal totals, Justin Holl’s NHL ledger includes notable highlights and championship contributions at multiple levels. His most celebrated stretch came in January and February 2018, when he scored in each of his first two NHL games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs Highlights
Holl’s Maple Leafs highlights are anchored by that historic 2018 debut run, including goals against the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers. He went on to play several seasons in Toronto, signing two contract extensions and skating in a top-four role during the 2019–20 campaign, helping stabilize the defense during a pivotal period for the franchise.
Other Wins & Performances
In the AHL, Holl was a key part of the 2018 Toronto Marlies Calder Cup championship run, posting five points in 20 playoff games. Earlier in his development, he earned the Gophers’ Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award and scored a last-second goal to beat North Dakota in the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four.
Justin Holl Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Justin Holl’s family has deep ties to hockey and to the Minnesota sports scene. His father, Jerry, is an author, while his cousin, Mike Erickson, played hockey for the University of Minnesota and was drafted 72nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2002.
Personal Life
Holl married his longtime partner, Audrey Erickson, in August 2019, after proposing to her earlier that same month. The couple welcomed a son in January 2025. He continues to make his home in the United States with his family.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Justin Holl was in the middle of a three-year, $10.4 million contract signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023. Expected to serve as a top-four, right-shot defenseman, he was tasked with helping a young Detroit core take the next step toward playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
Throughout the season, Holl logged steady minutes on the Red Wings’ blue line, often paired with younger defensemen and playing a key role on the penalty kill. His veteran presence and right-handed shot remained valuable assets for a Detroit team that continued to develop its young forwards and defensemen.
Looking ahead, Holl’s experience from deep Maple Leafs playoff runs and a Marlies Calder Cup championship positioned him as a stabilizing voice in the Red Wings’ locker room. His contract runs through the 2025–26 season, after which he is set to become an unrestricted free agent, making 2025 an important year for both his on-ice impact and his long-term future.
