Jake Muzzin

[Dropdapuck]

So, can Muzzin now be considered a top pairing D?

Pretty incredible improvement for a HF rookie.

 

[Another Carter Snipe]

So, can Muzzin now be considered a top pairing D?

Pretty incredible improvement for a HF rookie.

Muzz has come a long way. Gotten smarter (Far fewer Muzz kills), more confident, and sure the **** is battle tested now after seeing a healthy dose of the Thornton, Getzlaf, and Toews lines.

 

[etherialone]

Not a real surprise on how far Muzzins game has come. He had all of the skill/tools to reach this level of play.

 

[HookKing]

Not a real surprise on how far Muzzins game has come. He had all of the skill/tools to reach this level of play.

Not a surprise? Have you read through this thread and any others for the past two years?

 

[Peter James Bond]

So, can Muzzin now be considered a top pairing D?

Pretty incredible improvement for a HF rookie.

Many do not want to admit he is a top pairing defenseman. Top pairing defensemen
are supposed to be the best of the best and lack nothing.

He is a top pairing defenseman, because he is proving it. What more can he have done, the entire playoffs? He is tied for #1 in goals by a defenseman, with 5 (Subban has 5, Doughty 4). Plus 3, 11 points, was part of a #1 pairing that beat the Sharks, Ducks, and Black Hawks. Ask any of those opposing players...or Muzzin's teammates.

He is even killing penalties, playing tough D and one very impressive thing that
is not mentioned - playing physical and only 4 PM!! That's awesome, because
the Kings PK has not been stellar and Muzzin isn't taking stupid penalties, not
getting beat and not putting his team short handed.

The guy can get the puck through traffic and on net, as good as about anyone.
Does he make some gaffes and some bad decisions? Yes, but they are getting rarer
and rarer. This season has been his only full season and he's getting better and better.

 

[TruKingFan]

I see nobody who wrote their drivel back in February replied to the bump int his thread. Figures.

 

[Trolfoli]

Pretty impressive jump in play. Stopped with the turnovers/penalties... no more panic. Just a few months later he's a number 2 that got through the West and is in the SCF.... think Kings have their #2 guy.

Still remember that play during the regular season where Muzz beat Towes to the puck behind the net, got stripped clean... and the puck was in the net before Muzzin could turn around. He has really stepped up and in a short time.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Not a surprise? Have you read through this thread and any others for the past two years?

I never doubted him for a second...

 

[Kingspiracy]

I did, he's improved a ********

 

[etherialone]

Not a surprise? Have you read through this thread and any others for the past two years?

I am not surprised because I have always said that he could be what he is becoming. One of very very few who saw him for what he was capable of doing instead of focusing on his mistakes.

 

[bmr]

I deserve to eat a bit of Crow for starting this thread. Muzzin has matured beyond that I thought capable up to this point. I hope he continues that. You can tell he actually has the belief this year, where as last year he didn't. He's scored some clutch goals and been a great tandem w/ Doughty.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I didn't see him play prior to his getting called up by the Kings, but when he was called up for good, you could clearly see the talent was there. Only 2nd to Doughty on this team. The size, skating ability, good first pass, deceptive shot. 141st pick by the Penguins, and they let him go. There had to be a reason for both.

No doubt Muzzin has had some growing pains. He was a train wreck in his own zone in the playoffs last year. He hasn't always been great this year. He's still only played 132 NHL games, with now 38 in the playoffs and counting.

It's definitely been trial by fire for Muzzin as this season progressed. The Kings didn't have another option. They tried Regehr with Doughty, didn't work. Mitchell is 37. Martinez has been solid, but didn't play great until the 2nd half of the year. Scuderi was gone, but he wasn't able to play all those minutes even last year.

Like Sutter said earlier, this season was going to be determined by how the 4 young defensemen played(and of course getting enough out of the vets). Doughty has mostly been tremendous, Muzzin is a huge reason why the Kings are in the Final, Martinez just keeps on keepin' on for the most part, and Voynov has struggled. Sort of right on target there. The Kings are in the Final, but they've had to go 7 games in each series so far. They've been successful, but it's been a little choppy at times.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I see nobody who wrote their drivel back in February replied to the bump int his thread. Figures.

Not having an opinion is the easiest way to be right all the time.

 

[damacles1156]

I thought Muzzin was the Kings best Defender last year against the Hawks.
He played well, in that series despite being scratched for a game. Kid has come along way, always had the tools, just no toolbox.

 

[HYORI 1963]

I actually think it's a good idea to lock up Muzz for a long term while he's still relatively inexpensive.

5 [email protected] AAV. Get'er done Deano!

 

[Rorschach]

I'd like to wrap my crow in a pita with sriracha sauce pls.

 

[lumbergh]

So, can Muzzin now be considered a top pairing D?

Pretty incredible improvement for a HF rookie.

Drew Doughty can make a lot of defensemen into top pairing D. Let's not get carried away.

These two have good chemistry together. I hope they stay together a long, long time.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Drew Doughty can make a lot of defensemen into top pairing D. Let's not get carried away.

These two have good chemistry together. I hope they stay together a long, long time.

That's something that would be hard to buy elsewhere, though. If it ain't broken, you know?

 

[gonnaneedsomewine]

Still makes too many boneheaded decisions for my liking and lacks footspeed. Never been a big fan of him and I still am not. If it ever compares down to keeping him vs Martinez like some have speculated, I would take Martinez and it's not even close.

 

[bmr]

Still makes too many boneheaded decisions for my liking and lacks footspeed. Never been a big fan of him and I still am not. If it ever compares down to keeping him vs Martinez like some have speculated, I would take Martinez and it's not even close.

I think they are both beneficial to this team. I would say earlier in the year I definitely agree with you on that, but right now Muzzin is pretty equal to Martinez in terms of value to this team. I think that Muzzin/Martinez > Voynov right now and that is scary. Slava better get his ***** together or his days on this team could be numbered. Jack Johnson redux.

 

[bmr]

I actually think it's a good idea to lock up Muzz for a long term while he's still relatively inexpensive.

5 [email protected] AAV. Get'er done Deano!

He would basically take over for Greene, as I don't see us resigning him. Then McNabb can slot in on the 5-6 pairing. Honestly, Greene hasn't been that bad during the playoffs. He makes some boneheaded decisions and can get burned by the speed of other players, but his leadership and ability to clean out around the net is still top notch.

I'm wondering if Regehr gets a look tonight..what you guys think? Sutter is probably wanting to stretch out some minutes as the Kings have played a lot of long games already in this series.

 

[Whiskeypete]

i will eat my crow. the kid has turned the corner finally. at some point late in the season, suddenly his game changed and it continues to improve. it took longer, but the game finally slowed down for him.

i would be interested to see him play substantial minutes away from DD though, before giving him a final passing grade. is he good enough to possibly carry a pairing?

LA is going to see the likes of McNabb, Forbort and Gravel in the coming years. Muzz will be looked at to help mentor these guys the same way the current vets have done for him and others.

Still makes too many boneheaded decisions for my liking and lacks footspeed. Never been a big fan of him and I still am not. If it ever compares down to keeping him vs Martinez like some have speculated, I would take Martinez and it's not even close.

he has the footspeed, but i think what hampers him at times is still his decision making. he seems to not process fast enough at times and gets caught flat footed. the kid has some wheels for his size, we've all seen him race guys down.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Muzz Buzz...

Juzz Cuzz...

Get'er done Deano!!!

 

[HookKing]

Still makes too many boneheaded decisions for my liking and lacks footspeed. Never been a big fan of him and I still am not. If it ever compares down to keeping him vs Martinez like some have speculated, I would take Martinez and it's not even close.

This is a joke right? There is a reason Muzzin is on the first pair and Martinez on the bottom pair.

 

[gonnaneedsomewine]

This is a joke right? There is a reason Muzzin is on the first pair and Martinez on the bottom pair.

No, this is not a joke. Martinez is a better all around player in my opinion, and it's not even really that close. I would take him on my team over Muzzin any day.

The reason Muzzin is on the "first pair" is because there is an art to constructing defensive pairings. Typically, coaches like to pair a mobile, offensive minded defenseman with a stay-at-home, crease clearing defensive D-man.

The Kings most mobile defenseman are Doughty, Voynov, and Martinez, so they are all on three different pairings where they are paired with bigger, physical, stay-at-home defenseman in Muzzin, Mitchell, and Greene.

If you were just going to rank the LA Kings defenseman in terms of their all around game right now, Martinez is #2 on my list behind only Doughty. Voynov has the upside/potential to surpass Martinez, but right now Martinez is the second best all around defenseman on this team in terms of the way he can chip in offensively and take care of business in his own zone.