In a cap tight era, I really believe the Leafs shouldn't be in a rush to trade a $2M RD so the Leafs can sign 2 name brand average players (who may not even be as good as Holl), while most likely paying double for that privilege. Plus having to insert a rookie RD who the Leafs will have to shelter, and have to pray plays well.
Doesn't seem like a sound way to go about improving a D-core. You need bang for your cap buck, which means more Holls, not less. Grabbing 2 mediocre $4M players that may or may not be upgrades doesn't move the needle much for the Leafs.
His numbers last year with both Muzzin and Dermott were very good, and that was facing top pairing competition more and more as the year went on. Making errors happens, but as long as it doesn't end up in the back of your net it is inconsequential as every single D playing this game has turnovers.
I believe
@Zybalto has numbers when Dermott and Holl were together during the point where Rielly, Muzzin, and Ceci were out, and it was off the charts good for restricting GA/60.
And we tend to forget that this for all intents and purposes was his rookie season, and he definitely didn't play like a rookie.
I still say this slots everyone perfectly, with the ability to change pairings up based on game situations.
Rielly - AP
Muzzin - Holl
Dermott - Lehtonen
If Lehtonen comes as advertised, he could bump Holl down to the 3rd pairing where him and Dermott could be the shutdown pair and even as is, no Dman or pairing would require sheltering. I believe with Liljegren in the lineup, he would need to be heavily sheltered.
JMHO.