WINGS REPORT: Insider, Red Wings to Explore Buying Out $10.2 Million Defenseman in 2025

The Athletic’s Max Bultman, an NHL insider, predicts that in the summer of 2025, the Detroit Red Wings will try to acquire Justin Holl.

After playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Holl signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract with Detroit on July 1, 2023. Although Holl underperformed in his first season in Detroit, he was expected to help stabilize the Red Wings defense.

Holl was mentioned as a potential buyout target this summer after having a difficult 2023–24 NHL season, but Detroit decided against it. But Bultman thinks Holl will be acquired in 2025 if he does not step up his game.

They most likely did not want to pay a buyout price that would have resulted in a dead cap of four years. While $1.13 million annually was not a huge sum, four years is a long time to pay a dead cap. It is possible that Holl’s management group thinks he can play. I do not get the impression from Yzerman that he believes Holl is a lost cause, but whether Lalonde exploits him is another matter,” Bultman wrote in his piece.

“Your concern regarding the cap hit while sitting in the press box is valid, but it is likely that the Red Wings will not be as fortunate with injuries this year as they were in 2023–2024. If so, Holl may get increased playing time this season. However, Bultman continued, “I would have to believe they will look into a buyout next year, for just two years of dead cap at the same $1.13 million cost, if he does not and he is again a $3.4 million scratch for the majority of the season.

Detroit is situation becomes more acceptable if Holl is bought out the next season, as the Red Wings would only have to pay him $1.13 million for the next two years.

Holl skated in 38 games for the Red Wings past season, scoring 5 points (5 goals) and dishing out 5 assists.

The defensive depth chart for Detroit
To bolster Detroit is defense, the Red Wings signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a $4 million, two-year contract.

According to DailyFaceoff.com’s lineup projection, Holl is currently expected to be a scratch.