3 Potential Landing Spots For Defenseman Justin Holl

With Timothy Liljegren blossoming into a legitimate NHL defenseman, Justin Holl now finds himself on the trading block. It's been a very rough start to the season for Holl. In seven games, he has no points and a -7 rating. He also has been healthy scratched for numerous games because of this. However, one has to remember that he also recorded two goals and 20 points in 55 games last season, while also having a +16 rating. He also has only a $2 million cap hit, so he should have plenty of teams interested in him.

Here are three who come to mind.

Los Angeles Kings: The Los Angeles Kings have to be frontrunners in the Holl sweepstakes. It is well-known that they are looking for a right-handed defenseman, as Drew Doughty will be out for multiple weeks, while Sean Walker is done for the season. Holl is the most notable right-handed defenseman on the trading block right now, so the Kings have to be considering the 29-year-old. The Kings also have a 5-5-1 record, so hope isn't lost yet this season, either.

Columbus Blue Jackets: The Columbus Blue Jackets are off to a fantastic start this season, which is surprising given all the talent they have lost. With their 7-3-0 start, perhaps they should be looking to add more strength to the right side of their defense. Holl also has two years left on his contract, so he would be more than just a rental. He may not be a star, but he could be a nice addition for their bottom-pair or even top-four. If Columbus wants to remain competitive, upgrading on the backend seems like a necessity.

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Pittsburgh Penguins are in an unfamiliar position, as they are last in the Metropolitan Division. Injuries are a major reason behind this, but they also need more depth. One area that needs work is also the right side of their defense, so Holl should be a name that grabs their attention. During the offseason, they lost Cody Ceci and were unable to find a replacement for him through free agency. Although Holl is a different type of player, his large size and ability to produce decent points from the backend should intrigue Pittsburgh. Yet, he of course would need to bounce back from a rough start first.