Muzz - What to do?

[nuck]

I just listened to the Keefe interview about Muzzin again. "things flared up a little bit for him.... no specific hit or specific play, nothing to do with the concussions or head injury ... its just something else he's been dealing with"

The "something else" is what's been plaguing him this season I guess. Anyone have an idea what that might be?

 

[BlueBaron]

This is heart breaking. I'm sure we all love him but he's never there when we need him. I mean we have Sandin and if we get Gio cheap do we need Muzzin?

 

[ponder]

If we’re 100% healthy … is Muzzin a top 6 dman on this team? Tough call between him and Sandin.

Rielly - Brodie
Gio - Lily
Sandin/Muzzin - Holl

Muzzin of last year, easily. Muzzin of this year, I’m not so sure.

 

[Stephen]

I just listened to the Keefe interview about Muzzin again. "things flared up a little bit for him.... no specific hit or specific play, nothing to do with the concussions or head injury ... its just something else he's been dealing with"

The "something else" is what's been plaguing him this season I guess. Anyone have an idea what that might be?

I think he's in the Joffrey Lupul phase of his career at this point. Wheels are coming off fast.

 

[Morbo]

I think he's in the Joffrey Lupul phase of his career at this point. Wheels are coming off fast.

yeah he's lost a half step to a step already. body isn't holding up to the abuse.

the rumour that Dubas had Lindholm as his #1 target makes sense. he knows his impact D while still good in the present are mostly on the downslope of their careers.

 

[tmlms13]

Robidais Island or kutcherov Bay

 

[justloveleafs]

Think its a groin problem. That is what was said previously. If so, for a big heavy game in todays ultra speedy NHL? He might need to just rest over the summer and see how it plays out.

 

[nuck]

I think he's in the Joffrey Lupul phase of his career at this point. Wheels are coming off fast.

Maybe but remember a couple of years ago the first half that Reilly had? He was moving like he had gained 30 pounds or had a lower back problem or something. They never told us what it was (I theorized he blew a gunnion) but after a few months it got better and his game came back. His reads looked off because he wasn't able to physically react they way he usually did on some plays and it made him look confused at times.

Pinched disc, crushed nad, chronic muscle or ligament tear or joint inflammation they don't rest enough to heal can all look more serious than they are because these are things a guy tries to play through but losing 10% of your mobility on a random bad night can't be immediately adapted to.

Or he may actually be nursing something that requires surgery but they don't want to lose him for the playoff. Maybe thats why they didn't shut him down completely for the regular season, because rest alone only helps so much. I am sure we will here after the playoffs what had been "flaring up".

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

Hard to trade him if he's constantly injured. I do feel he may be able to get back to 80% of what he previously was here, but he needs to work his way back and that isn't possible thus far due to health reasons.

I think he's either moved in the off-season, with us needing to pay a draft pick to do so, or he's back for the first dozen games before Lups picks him up on a boat and ferries him over to Robidas Island.

 

[TGB]

There is only one correct answer here: the salary cap sucks.

 

[Omar23]

I would be disappointed if the Leafs renege on their NTC by pressuring Muzzin to accept a trade a year early. It speaks to who they are.

Muzzin is still a useful player. He may need this summer to come back to full health.

He can submit a 10-team NTC in 2023-24. The Leafs could then pay his bonus and easily trade the last year of his contract for actual assets when his cap-hit is $5-million-plus but his remaining salary is only $2-million.

That's the deal.

Until then, he's part of the team.

I think if they can find a taker, it’s gonna cost them to deal him.

 

[myleafs]

Please check Capfriendly again. He has a full NTC for this year and next. Starting on July 1, 2023 he submits a ten team no trade list. His contract is designed for him to be traded in the summer of 2023. Suggesting that the Leafs can trade him this summer is highly questionable.

my bad thanks for the info

 

[horner]

If Jake doesn't come back for the playoffs you have to think that the 2 concussions have really affected him.
I will take a guess that he retires if so.
If so sign Geo 3 mil. He seems to want to play for us.

 

[IPS]

Muzzin looked better than he has almost all season against the Wings.

Those clips in practice had me really worried about his mobility but last night looked very promising.

Crazy to say but we could actually have a healthy Muzzin for the playoffs.

 

[Srsly]

This fanbase is brutal. Muzzin when healthy and dialed in is debatably our best defender. Unfortunately he hasn’t been either for the past season so I’m not surprised I’ve seen this thread created. I agree it’s frustrating but I also hate giving up on him as when he’s on his game he’s the perfect playoff defender.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Who thinks Muzzin will be here next year?

I think with the addition of Lyubushkin his ability to stabilize Morgan and his Lyubushkin UFA status + Muzz's recent injury history , his declining play, plus his cap hit (5.6 mil), means Muzz is the odd man out next year.

IMO it makes a lot of sense to sign Lyubushkin for the reasons I previously mentioned. Gio stabilizes Lilly, Lilly has gone from a bottom pairing pizza delivery risky defender , to a good bottom pairing defender with Gio. It makes sense to resign Gio just for the mentorship for Lilly, not to mention Gio's ability to play up in the lineup.

Next year I see the D-pairings as :

Rilley - Lyub
Gio - Lilly.
Sandin- Open

Unfortunately Muzzy took a discount to sign here to retire here .. he has built a home in Woodstock and bought a condo near practice facility .. his wife wants to have lots of kids and she wants them close to her family also in Woodstock .. he and JT are in exactly same type of situation where they play will continue to decline but Leafs knew da deals with both before they signed here .. so bottom line what will happen is Muzzy will move to 3rd pair and JT will slide over to LW .. I know you guys aren't gonna like it but da truth is da truth

 

[FrozenJagrt]

Seems like whenever I watch Muzzin playing, I can hear Joe Rogan saying "Oh he's hurt!".

Even when he doesn't get injured, I've never seen a guy wincing or hobbling more than Muzzin. Speaks more to his style of play than anything and I don't hold that against him, it's just a strange thing I've noticed.

If the Leafs can move him, I think it should definitely be considered. Great player, but I think his spot can be filled by someone else in the system and his cap hit can be used elsewhere

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Muzzin looked better than he has almost all season against the Wings.

Those clips in practice had me really worried about his mobility but last night looked very promising.

Crazy to say but we could actually have a healthy Muzzin for the playoffs.

It all comes down to whether his knee holds up or not .. he came back to get his conditioning back and then strained it again .. it could happen at any moment so don't get your hopes up .. if he tears it then he will LTIR next season

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

You can see when skill forward goes inside out on him his knee isn't right.

 

[justloveleafs]

Goood friend of mine is his grandfathers coffee friend. I could find out in two days what the deal is. But? where would I be? Heck II hired Salming last year, was best friends with Corson and Tucker. I don't dare mention it here.

 

[PromisedLand]

Muzzin is probably our best D-man when fully on. You don't trade pieces like that unless you are 100% sure that he cannot get back to his game.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Goood friend of mine is his grandfathers coffee friend. I could find out in two days what the deal is. But? where would I be? Heck II hired Salming last year, was best friends with Corson and Tucker. I don't dare mention it here.

You just know everyone and have connections everywhere

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Goood friend of mine is his grandfathers coffee friend. I could find out in two days what the deal is. But? where would I be? Heck II hired Salming last year, was best friends with Corson and Tucker. I don't dare mention it here.

It would have come out if Muzzy and Dubie wanted it too .. my best guess is they have decided to use guise of playoff HIDING injuries as da excuse .. and da Sportsnet and TSN media guys are not gonna report on hearsay from family members .. but it may come out in off season I suspect with a guy like Simmonds and/or and ODOG type .. but bottom line if it came out now it would make Muzzy look bad and it may be a team distraction so I am in favor of keeping it quiet too .. but it gave me a real chuckle and us hockey guys have all done what Muzzy did at least once in our lives some of us many more .. ps Tucks can really down da brews for a little guy

 

[Bluelines]

Unfortunately Muzzy took a discount to sign here to retire here .. he has built a home in Woodstock and bought a condo near practice facility .. his wife wants to have lots of kids and she wants them close to her family also in Woodstock .. he and JT are in exactly same type of situation where they play will continue to decline but Leafs knew da deals with both before they signed here .. so bottom line what will happen is Muzzy will move to 3rd pair and JT will slide over to LW .. I know you guys aren't gonna like it but da truth is da truth

Fair on the family stuff, I'm not so sure a defensive dman playing 2nd pairing making $5.6 per is a discount.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Fair on the family stuff, I'm not so sure a defensive dman playing 2nd pairing making $5.6 per is a discount.

You are right based on his play this year .. but when it was penned it was .. JT looked great his 1st year here too .. now it isn't .. but again Leafs knew this would likely occur