5 players the Red Wings shouldn’t bring back next season

Justin Holl has been done in Detroit for a while

Justin Holl has not been a regular face in the Red Wings lineup for months, and while the 32-year-old is signed through the 2025-26 season, he would be a prime trade candidate in the offseason. Holl’s contract shouldn’t be an issue for most clubs, thanks to the $3.4 million AAV. But it could be tough to make a sales pitch regarding a blueliner who has been a healthy scratch for a while now. 

We have seen Holl play in just 37 contests this season, a far cry from the number of games he suited up for last season when he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Over the past three seasons, Holl regularly logged top-four minutes, but his average total ice time per game has dropped to a meager 15:07. 

This indicates Holl was either a bad fit for the Red Wings, or his overall play has simply regressed. He’s still been a physical player, landing 57 hits and blocking 38 shots, and he still contributed a fair 39.0 short-handed minutes. 

Despite struggles with Detroit’s goaltending and defensive play, Holl’s 5-on-5 metrics weren’t bad, with a 91.8 on-ice save percentage and just 21 goals allowed. His Corsi was well under 50 percent, but the Red Wings also had a plus-6 goal differential at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice.