Holl quietly proving dependable for Red Wings

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings’ dressing room is a lively, crowded place after practices and morning skates, making it easy to miss the mild-mannered Justin Holl go to and from his stall.

And even on the ice, while other Red Wings players are garnering much of the attention early this season, Holl is quietly having a solid start to his 2023-24 campaign.

“He takes pride in defending, manages his game extremely well, joins the rush correctly and never goes out of himself or his game,” Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said about Holl. “That’s why on a Cup-contending team in Toronto last year, he was finding himself as one of the top-minute guys there. We appreciate a lot of what he’s doing for us.”

Holl found the scoresheet for the first time this season in Sunday’s 6-2 win against the Calgary Flames, matching single-game NHL career-highs in assists and points (three). As of Wednesday morning, Holl was tied with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Vegas Golden Knights blueliner Brayden McNabb for the league’s best plus-minus rating at plus-8.

“The forwards have really done their job making things as easy as possible on defense,” Holl said Tuesday. “The stats come and go, so you never get too wrapped up in those. You just want to know within yourself that you’re making the right plays most of the time.”

Being a reliable option on both sides of the puck is important to Holl.

“When the opportunities are there, you want to be part of the five-man group whether you’re on defense or offense,” Holl said. “I know the forwards are counting on us to jump in and give them an extra (player) to use. I’m just trying to find the right spots, not force anything and be there when it’s required.”

Holl, who was selected 54th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, brings a wealth of hockey experience to the Red Wings.

After playing four seasons (2010-14) at the University of Minnesota, Holl split time between Chicago’s ECHL-affiliate Indy Fuel and American Hockey League-affiliate Rockford Ice Hogs in 2014-15. He played for the Maple Leafs’ AHL club, the Toronto Marlies, from 2015-18 before making his NHL debut on Jan. 31, 2018.

The 6-foot-4, 194-pound defenseman spent the past six seasons with the Maple Leafs before signing a three-year deal with Detroit this offseason.

“I think we have a mature team in a lot of ways,” Holl said. “Like the way we play and how we have been playing this year. We have a lot of voices in the locker room that have been around for a little while and I think that only helps us.”

Holl has been paired with several different defensemen already this season, but said he feels confident alongside any member of the Red Wings’ blue line corps.

“I’ve played with Ghost (Shayne Gostisbehere), Maatsy (Olli Maatta) and Benny (Chiarot),” Holl said. “I think they all bring different things, but I’ve felt comfortable with all of them. I’m just trying to be a guy who can be called upon to do whatever the team needs.”