Justin Holl might miss Toronto, but he's happy with his decision to sign with the Detroit Red Wings this summer.
The 31-year-old defenseman, after spending eight seasons in the Maple Leafs organization, signed a three-year, $10.2 million deal on July 1.
On Friday, Holl joined Ray Ferraro and Darren Dreger on 'The Ray and Dregs Podcast' to discuss his move to the Motor City, what it's like to sign a contract in free agency, and his time in Toronto.
"I loved my time in Toronto," the 31-year-old said. "I really have nothing but great memories and I'm grateful for the relationships that I was able to forge and the team success that we had.
"I have no qualms about moving on, but I was really grateful for my time in Toronto. That being said, this is just what was next in my path to development I think and how the contract situation works out and everything like that, I'm grateful to be in a place that I'm valued and I'm just ready to keep moving."
One of the most difficult parts about playing for the Maple Leafs is the media coverage. For some, the amount of coverage is easier to deal with. For others, not so much.
"As players, I don't know if we have time to worry about all that. We have such a narrow focus. I'm just trying to make sure my knee feels good for Monday's game or something like that," he said.
Holl, while discussing that with Ferraro and Dreger, said that after he left Toronto, he grew a greater respect for just how much coverage there is on the Maple Leafs.
"It is kind of funny, though. Having left Toronto, I think I have a greater appreciation for just how much coverage there is. I feel like I've seen more coverage on Toronto since I've left than I ever did when I was there so it's kind of funny."
In his first two NHL games, Holl had two goals and was a plus-five. It was an amazing start for the then-NHL rookie. But what did it feel like at the moment?
"I honestly, for a period of time, thought there was a chance that I would never not score in an NHL game," Holl told Ferraro and Dreger with a laugh. "But obviously it turned out to be a little harder than that... It didn't end up being true but it was funny.
"I was at the American League All-Star Game a couple of days before that and then I got called up, and even at the All-Star Game, like I won every skills competition, our team won the All-Star Game, it was just one of those weeks where everything's just falling your way."
If you know the story of Holl, you know that his career really began in the ECHL with the Indy Fuel. He told Ferraro and Dreger that during that time, he didn't know if he was going to play hockey next year.
"At that point, you're like, 'Is this really going to go anywhere?' You're wondering, 'Maybe this might be my last year playing hockey, I kind of might want to get going on something else to establish a different career.' Something that can provide better for your family or whatever it is."
But following that season, the Toronto Marlies signed him to an AHL contract. That's where Holl found his footing and really started developing into one day being an NHL defenseman.
"You kind of just maintain the focus of the same thing, you just want to be the best player you can be every night and see where it shakes out," he said. "And I think it turns out that Kyle Dubas had seen me play the Solar Bears or something in a random game in January, and that was part of the reason why he wanted to sign me to the Marlies.
"I guess it just goes to show that you never know who's watching."
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