QA with Justin Holl

Few defensemen jump into the USHL from high school, prep school, or midget AAA hockey during their draft year and almost immediately appear comfortable with the caliber of play offensively. Those who have in recent years, such as John Carlson and Matt Donovan, have already gone on to special things. Justin Holl is in that same category. If history is any indication of what Holl's quick adaptation to the USHL offensively portends, and he indeed follows in the footsteps of such player as Carlson and Donovan, then Holl has a very bright future ahead of him.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to interview Justin Holl during the USHL playoffs. Holl discussed his prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, his adjustment to the USHL, his commitment to the University of Minnesota, his participation in an NHL skills competition, his senior season with Minnetonka, his minor hockey, his trademark mock necks, and the NHLers he compares himself to most (and the incredible accuracy of his comparisons).

McKeen's: Central Scouting recently released their final rankings, and you were ranked 47th amongst North American skaters. So, if you factor in some Europeans and the goalies, that's going to put you late, late in the second round or early third round by CSS's standard. So, that's not too bad. What's your reaction to being ranked so highly?

Holl: You know? I was excited about it. It's always good to move up from the midterm ranking, so I was happy about that. I've heard that the draft is such a crap shoot, so you never really know where you're going to end up anyway. But, it's nice. It's an honor to be ranked there.

McKeen's: You're right. They had Danny Mattson, who did play here in Omaha this season, 56th or so on their rankings last year amongst North American skaters, and Danny went undrafted I don't think you have to worry about that. Along with your placement in the rankings comes an invite to the Combine. So, what are you plans for preparing for that?

Holl: You know? I've got to start lifting again. I've haven't lifted more than, like, once a week during my high school season and once a week down here, so I've definitely got to start hitting the weights a little more and just getting my strength and conditioning going again.

McKeen's: With the Combine, how did you find out you'd been invited and tell me about that?

Holl: I first found out when I was with a couple teammates down here. One of my teammates was looking at the Combine invite list, and they're like, "Hey, you're invited." And I was like, "Oh, sweet." But, then it ended up my family advisor let me know later that day.

McKeen's: With your family advisor, that was one of my questions later on, but I'll ask you now, since you brought it up. Who is your family advisor?

Holl: Brian and Steve Bartlett, the Sports Consulting Group.

McKeen's: Earlier this year, you made your mark with Minnetonka. Now everyone is watching you in Omaha, and you also played here as well in November for four games. So, what was it like to play those four games in November before your high school season?

Holl: It was definitely a big step, because I was used to playing the high school season, and I had to adjust to the pace. It's bigger, faster, and stronger. I guess it made it a little easier coming into my high school season, because I'm used to playing with these great players in the USHL. So, it was definitely a good experience before the season. Then, afterwards, it was time to adjust again, because I was so used to my high school season that I'd been playing for three or four months.

McKeen's: Tell me more about, and you touched on some of these, the biggest adjustments you faced coming from the [Upper Midwest High School] Elite League the first time around or high school up to the USHL?

Holl: You know, it's just less time to make decisions. That's the biggest thing in my opinion. You get the puck in high school, you'll have three or four seconds to make a decision, and then in the USHL you'll have, maybe, a half second, and then you've got to get rid of the puck. So, it's definitely a step up.

McKeen's: I've watched you with Omaha. I've noticed (pauses)… it's not that your effort away from the puck is poor, it's not, but when you have the puck on your stick, it's like a whole new energy - you kind of light up a bit. It seems like even your skating improves with the puck, and not everyone can say that. What gives you that confidence with the puck?

Holl: I consider myself a player who always wants the puck and wants the puck on his stick to be a playmaker. Coming to the USHL, I've had to adjust a little bit and maybe be a little less free-wheeling, but when I get the puck on my stick and I have space to move, I love to carry the puck, and I like to make things happen.

McKeen's: For someone who has not seen you play, what would you say are the strengths of your game and the style that you play?

Holl: I'd say I'm an offensive defenseman. My biggest strengths are skating and making good first passes and running the power play, I think.

McKeen's: On the other hand, what would you say are the areas of your game that you need to improve upon the most moving forward?

Holl: Well, I definitely need to get stronger if I want to play at the next level, and improve my defensive zone play, which I think is going to come with becoming stronger, and then being more physical.

McKeen's: With the next level, at some point for you that'll be the University of Minnesota. I've kind of seen mixed reports. Is the plan for you to go "The U" the next year or are you coming back here?

Holl: I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think the plan is to come back here. I haven't talked to them about it since I committed and I haven't really talked to anyone else, but I'm still pretty sure I'm going to come back here for another year to develop.

McKeen's: With colleges, when did colleges first start recruiting you and who was it narrowed down to toward the end and what made you decide on "The U"?

Holl: Well, I guess after national camp my 16 year. I wasn't really getting any interest before that, and then I got a late invite to the national camp. After that, I started getting some letters from schools, which was a big thrill for me, because it was the first time I realized it could be a possibility to play Division I hockey, and that's also when I acquired my family advisor. But, it ended up to be narrowed down to Colorado College, Minnesota, and Princeton. Colorado College and Princeton already had offers on the table, and then Minnesota was the last one to offer, and being a Minnesota boy, I've always wanted to go to Minnesota. So, it was pretty much a no-brainer from there.

McKeen's: Sure. That'd have been a good grab for Princeton, although they're a pretty good program. When I first saw you here, I was aware of you, but I didn't know your stats and stuff, but I saw you had good puck poises. I saw that last year, if the stats are right, you had a goal and six or seven assists last year. Obviously this year, that ratcheted up a little bit. So, what was the difference that helped you make that leap?

Holl: You know? I really didn't have the best year my junior year. I think I lost some confidence with the puck and didn't have that kind of poise where I get up and go with the puck. So, it was tough. I didn't get a lot of points, but I was determined to come back and rebound and have a good year.

McKeen's: And you certainly did. During your high school season, you were invited, or selected, however you want to put it, to participate in the Wild's 2010 skills competition. Tell me about that. When did they invite you, who told you, and how did you find out?

Holl: It was some time in January when I got the invite. They just sent an e-mail (pauses)… actually, I think it was phone call. It was obviously a thrill for me because, to be honored as one of four high school players picked to compete in the skills competition is exciting, but it was also exciting to go and play with some of the NHL players, which is where I hope to be someday.

McKeen's: Tell me more about that, what it was like to participate in that. Because, you're hardest shot was 86 miles per hour, which is pretty [darn] good, and then Cal Clutterbuck shot one that was 99. So, tell me more about participating, in a way, side by side with NHLers.

Holl: Obviously, NHL players are a lot better at hockey than I am (smiles and chuckles). But, I think the biggest difference between NHL players and the rest of the group is the little things they do in a game. They do the little things right. They're better at making good decisions than someone, say, in the AHL, because the difference is so small at that level.

McKeen's: You're absolutely right. I used to scout and watch the AHL a lot myself back when it was in this region, and you're absolutely right. The AHL guys are just so close and on the cusp, and just one little thing or a just a little experience away from the NHL. With that skills competition, what sort of crowd did they have for that?

Holl: It was pretty wild, actually. I think the whole lower bowl was packed and I wasn't expecting that at all. I was expecting maybe a thousand, maybe a couple hundred. But, they had, I think, 8,000 there, which is pretty crazy.

McKeen's: That is pretty good for a skills comp. Also later, at the Xcel Center, you played again at the state tournament. Tell me about that experience and having the thing packed.

Holl: It was pretty unbelievable. My brother got a chance to play in the state tournament when he played for Minnetonka in 2006, and I've wanted to ever since, because I was there in the crowd, and I just imagined it would be unbelievable. It was kind of weird, because, once you got out there, you didn't really notice the crowd. It just felt like you were playing hockey.

McKeen's: Unfortunately, you guys came out on the wrong end of that game. Go over what happened in that game.

Holl: Well, we just got off to a bad start. They scored on us on the first shift. We got a lot of chances in the first period, but just couldn't bury. I thought we kind of dominated the game, but they got a bounce off the boards that led to a scoring chance right in front of the net, which they buried, and got another scoring chance, and then got a couple others by just good plays. Coming into the third period down 4-0, we weren't out of it by any means, then [Andrew] Prochno scores those two big goals at the beginning of the first (smiles at his error)…beginning of third period, excuse me. That gave us a little bit of new life, but, you know, just came out on the wrong end.

McKeen's: Not to harp on this, but what goes through your mind when you're having to watch them celebrate at the end of that?

Holl: You know, I didn't really think I would break down, but at the end I was just kind of sitting there and I just realized it was the last time I was going to put on the Minnetonka jersey and I just broke down. It was sad. Either way, it was going to be sad - it's going to be over. But, it'd be fun to go out on top.

McKeen's: As you mentioned, Prochno was one of your teammates and then also Max Gardiner, two guys at different points on the list, but showing up on Central Scouting's list, so I'd be remiss if I didn't ask about them. So, tell me a bit about Max's game and a bit about Andrew's game.

Holl: Max is a power forward, but also really skilled, and he's a good playmaker. He skates well and makes really good passes and has great hands and also a great shot. So, he's a pretty complete player. Prochno is as fast as can be, has a rocket shot, and is a great offensive defensemen.

McKeen's: Prior to this season, you played in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. I'm pretty certain on this, but to make absolutely sure, how many years did you play in that league?

Holl: Just one.

McKeen's: Just the one. That goes with what I could find. Tell me about the role the Elite League played in your development, even though it was only the one year.

Holl: It was definitely really beneficial. It was a really fast league. I'd compare it, in terms, maybe to the USHL. Well, a little slower. It's the same thing about time to make decisions, having less time. So, I think it definitely prepared me for a good high school season.

McKeen's: That's what a lot of the high school guys that I talk to from Minnesota say, is that it kind of helps bridge the gap a little bit between high school and the USHL. Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start skating and playing and how did you get that start?

Holl: I got started skating at age three. I started playing organized hockey at, I think, age five. My dad got me started. He played hockey for Minnetonka High School and I think he always wanted his kids to be hockey players. Both my older brother and older sister played hockey for Minnetonka High School. It was just a hockey family and I loved it ever since I started.

McKeen's: Did your brother and sister go on to play college anywhere?

Holl: My brother played a year of juniors and then decided to go to college. He went to the University of Minnesota. My sister plays club hockey at Wisconsin-Madison.

McKeen's: Okay. They have a good club team, actually. Where did your brother play juniors?

Holl: He played for the Minnesota Owls.

McKeen's: For what organizations, and for you guys in Minnesota, it's oftentimes one, but for what organizations did you skate for at the youth levels on the way up?

Holl: Pretty much just Minnetonka, but, also, my dad had a Triple A team called the Wolverines, which was just a spring and fall league. I think I did that until I was about 13. It was just more for fun and just developing my skills.

McKeen's: Now, going back to the draft, do you anticipate going to Los Angeles and what's your expectations of it?

Holl: Well, I think my parents don't really want me to go, because they don't want me sitting around there the whole day. Like we said, the draft is a crap shoot and if you don't go when you're expected to go, it can get a little frustrating. But, you know? You only get drafted once, and either way it's going to be the same if I'm there or not there. I'm still going to be waiting for my name to be called I guess. So, I'm going to say we're going.

McKeen's: (Chuckles) I'll get to look forward to seeing if you win that or not. I've noticed while you play that you wear, I don't know if it's a mock neck or a turtleneck, it's something like that, although I don't know if I noticed it tonight.

Holl: Yeah, it was there tonight.

McKeen's: Okay. Tell me about that, because it reminds me of Wayne Gretzky, or, lesser known, Alexander Korolyuk.

Holl: (Smiles and chuckles) Yeah, don't worry (chuckles more), I'm not trying to emulate Gretzky. I'm not as good as him, that's for sure. I don't really know how it got started. My mom bought me one a couple years ago for hockey and I just liked the feeling. I don't know why, and got a few others, and now I wear them pretty regularly.

McKeen's: Is that like an Under Armour © mock neck?

Holl: Mmm, hmm. Under Armour mock neck. Then, for the high school season, we did a thing called "Turtleneck Day." It was me, Prochno, and Gardiner, and we'd wear turtlenecks on Saturdays, and that worked for the entire season except for the state championship.

McKeen's: (Chuckles) Well, why didn't everyone wear one? Well, to round things out. Who were some of your favorite players earlier in your youth and who are some players today who you feel you're similar to or that you'd like to equate to?

Holl: You know, I liked Ray Bourque when I was kid, because he was an unbelievable offensive defenseman, and I was cheering for him hard when he won the Cup in Colorado, in 2002 or something like.

McKeen's: 2001 or 2002, one of the two. [It was 2001, after which Bourque retired.]

Holl: Yeah, one of those. Today, I compare myself to Christian Ehrhoff of the Vancouver Canucks or a Jay Bouwmeester for the Calgary Flames - a puckmoving defenseman who can skate.