Justin Holl's career has taken a winding path since his days patrolling the blue line for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Known for his hard minutes and occasional, very visible mistakes, Holl became a polarizing figure in Toronto. After his tenure with the Leafs, Holl signed a three-year, $10.2 million deal with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1, 2023, with the expectation that he would stabilize their defense.

However, the 2023-24 season proved to be a challenging one for Holl in Detroit. He struggled to find his footing, and by late July 2024, there were whispers that the Red Wings might consider buying out his contract in 2025 if his performance didn't improve. Max Bultman of The Athletic suggested that if Holl remained a "$3.4 million scratch for most of the season," a buyout would become a more palatable option for Detroit, costing them just $1.13 million for two years of dead cap. During the 2023-24 season, Holl played 38 games, recording 5 assists.

The 2024-25 season saw Holl appearing in 73 games for the Red Wings, where he managed to score 2 goals and assist in 6 others, accumulating a total of 8 points. Despite this, on October 5, 2025, the Red Wings placed Holl on waivers, signaling uncertainty about his future with the team. Holl is currently in the final season of his three-year contract.

As of late December 2025, Holl finds himself playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. In 22 games with the Griffins, he has scored 2 goals and 6 assists. His transactions show that on October 5, 2025, he was sent from the Detroit Red Wings to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Looking back, some observers have questioned the Red Wings' decision to sign Holl in the first place, particularly given the scarcity of right-handed defensemen and the team's perceived need for one. Despite the initial hope that Holl would be a valuable addition to the Red Wings' defensive corps, his performance did not meet expectations, leading to his current situation in the AHL.