Confirmed with Link: Muzzin to Toronto for 2019 1st, Grundstrom, and rights to Durzi

[riznat]

Grundstrom with 4 points in 3 games with the Reign, nice to see hes still putting up points with Ontario. Excited to see some highlights and hopefully see him with the Kings in a few weeks.

 

[YP44]

Grundstrom with 4 points in 3 games with the Reign, nice to see hes still putting up points with Ontario. Excited to see some highlights and hopefully see him with the Kings in a few weeks.

With Luff already sitting out games I think we won't see a callup till Hagelin, Lewis, Clifford or Thompson are moved.

 

[AKAY47]

Lewis & Clifford aren't going anywhere. Hagelin & Thompson should get moved, yes.

 

[Mats26]

Lewis & Clifford aren't going anywhere. Hagelin & Thompson should get moved, yes.

Thompson was moved, hope we get a 3rd for Hagelin. Lewis will probably be moved next year. Clifford will stay. Who will be our 4th line center next year JAD\Amadio, UFA like Carpenter??

 

[Steve Zissou]

Thompson was moved, hope we get a 3rd for Hagelin. Lewis will probably be moved next year. Clifford will stay. Who will be our 4th line center next year JAD\Amadio, UFA like Carpenter??

Who cares!?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Been watching Muzzin the past few games, and last night against the Islanders especially, he looked terrible.

Question for Kings fans? Has his game fallen off that much?

Right now this trade is looking very promising for Blake. He may have unloaded Muzzin at the right time. And based on the Montour trade. Getting 2 prospects, and a first rd pick was a steal.

 

[tny760]

Been watching Muzzin the past few games, and last night against the Islanders especially, he looked terrible.

Question for Kings fans? Has his game fallen off that much?

Right now this trade is looking very promising for Blake. He may have unloaded Muzzin at the right time. And based on the Montour trade. Getting 2 prospects, and a first rd pick was a steal.

sometimes you get muzzin, sometimes you get muffin. he'll probably come back next game with some solid defense and throw a dart to the upper 90

way she goes

 

[KINGS17]

Been watching Muzzin the past few games, and last night against the Islanders especially, he looked terrible.

Question for Kings fans? Has his game fallen off that much?

Right now this trade is looking very promising for Blake. He may have unloaded Muzzin at the right time. And based on the Montour trade. Getting 2 prospects, and a first rd pick was a steal.

Muzzin has some miles on him. You have a defenseman in Muzzin who, when he is on his game, can anchor a 2nd pairing. When Muzzin isn't on his game he can look like a bottom pairing defenseman.

I think the key for Muzzin is having his role well defined. When he was paired with Doughty he was great, because Doughty could roam around a little bit more and Muzzin covered for him. Likewise, Muzzin could take some chances, because Doughty was a world class player at the time.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Muzzin has some miles on him. You have a defenseman in Muzzin who, when he is on his game, can anchor a 2nd pairing. When Muzzin isn't on his game he can look like a bottom pairing defenseman.

I think the key for Muzzin is having his role well defined. When he was paired with Doughty he was great, because Doughty could roam around a little bit more and Muzzin covered for him. Likewise, Muzzin could take some chances, because Doughty was a world class player at the time.

One thing that I have noticed, on a high pace team. Muzzin looks slow. A lot slower than playing on the Kings heavier game system throughout the years.

He's looked mediocre since the trade from my observations. I am not sure if the Kings system actually made him look better, or it's the Leafs system that makes him look bad.

But for now, with what Grundstrom is doing at the AHL, and the pick along with Durzi. Kings look like they made a nice deal here.

 

[YP44]

Muzzin will be good for the leafs yet. Takes some players time to adjust to new city, sytem, role, etc

 

[KINGS17]

One thing that I have noticed, on a high pace team. Muzzin looks slow. A lot slower than playing on the Kings heavier game system throughout the years.

He's looked mediocre since the trade from my observations. I am not sure if the Kings system actually made him look better, or it's the Leafs system that makes him look bad.

But for now, with what Grundstrom is doing at the AHL, and the pick along with Durzi. Kings look like they made a nice deal here.

Time will tell on what the Kings received, but it is exactly the type of deal the Kings needed to make. Wish the Kings had more players like Muzzin to deal.

I think Muzzin will adjust to the speed of Toronto's game. When the Kings were at their peak he would have brain cramps once in a while, but overall he was a real asset. Tough on the puck carrier, and can move the puck with a good first pass.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Time will tell on what the Kings received, but it is exactly the type of deal the Kings needed to make. Wish the Kings had more players like Muzzin to deal.

I think Muzzin will adjust to the speed of Toronto's game. When the Kings were at their peak he would have brain cramps once in a while, but overall he was a real asset. Tough on the puck carrier, and can move the puck with a good first pass.

That's fair. Maybe he needs more time. Last night he was exposed when he was hit by the Isles in a high profile game.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Been watching Muzzin the past few games, and last night against the Islanders especially, he looked terrible.

Question for Kings fans? Has his game fallen off that much?

Right now this trade is looking very promising for Blake. He may have unloaded Muzzin at the right time. And based on the Montour trade. Getting 2 prospects, and a first rd pick was a steal.

Fallen off from when? From 2014? Yeah. From 2016? No, not really.

My own personal theory, with nothing to actually back it up, is that the back injury he had in junior eventually caught up to him to some extent. To me, for years, it's looked like he was skating on one good leg when he has to react in the d-zone. He can be awkward, stiff, lumbering. When he has the puck, he's alright, but it's the reaction time that gets him. He got named to Team Canada for the World Cup, and the couple games he played, he didn't look good. Like he shouldn't have been there.

One turbo charged emotional game for the opposing team on back to back nights isn't a sample size to go by, but yeah, Muzzin isn't great when he has to keep up with others. He was able to mask that a bit with the Kings years ago, because of the style they played, and when the Kings were winning, the refs didn't call many of the interference penalties they should have against Muzzin, Greene, and even Doughty. If Muzzin can't do that, he just doesn't have the kind of agility to make up for it, and can look awkward.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Muzzin isn't great when he has to keep up with others. He was able to mask that a bit with the Kings years ago, because of the style they played, and when the Kings were winning, the refs didn't call many of the interference penalties they should have against Muzzin, Greene, and even Doughty. If Muzzin can't do that, he just doesn't have the kind of agility to make up for it, and can look awkward.

Thanks, this answers my question.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

If LA can grab a good player with that first and Grundstrom turns out into a 20G/25G-10A type of player, than this deal was awesome for a good second pairing defenseman.

Right now all pieces are uncertainties though.

 

[CowMix]

Seems like Leaf fans expect too much from Muzzin, he was never going to be their defensive savior. Hes a depth pickup that improves their defense but wont solidify it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

As someone else also alluded to he doesn't seem to handle change well. The 'defined role' is important because he plays within his limits most of the time. If you keep rotating his d partner, expect badness.

 

[Telos]

He's a good top 4 defenseman. While he is no savior for the Leafs, it is likely between his ears. His decision making was never world-class, but he is playing for his childhood team in the hardest market in the sport. He is probably second-guessing himself and trying to figure his role. I'm sure it will be fine, every team gets lit up, and Leaf fans are just expecting too much from him.

 

[YP44]

He's a good top 4 defenseman. While he is no savior for the Leafs, it is likely between his ears. His decision making was never world-class, but he is playing for his childhood team in the hardest market in the sport. He is probably second-guessing himself and trying to figure his role. I'm sure it will be fine, every team gets lit up, and Leaf fans are just expecting too much from him.

Pretty hard market to adjust in too.

 

[King'sPawn]

Been watching Muzzin the past few games, and last night against the Islanders especially, he looked terrible.

Question for Kings fans? Has his game fallen off that much?

Right now this trade is looking very promising for Blake. He may have unloaded Muzzin at the right time. And based on the Montour trade. Getting 2 prospects, and a first rd pick was a steal.

Muzzin is able and willing to take risks. Some defensemen will play within their role, and play it safe. Other defensemen, whether it's Phaneuf or Doughty, try to make the big play. Some players calculate the risks better than others (like Doughty). Some not so much (like Phaneuf).

Muzzin is probably in the middle part of the spectrum as far as calculating risks well. So he'll make the big plays, but he can also make big gaffes.

 

[KINGS17]

Muzzin will never skate with the fastest of the Leaf forwards. How many defensemen do the Leafs have who can actually do this? My guess is none.

However, when he is on his game and he gets the puck on his stick in his own zone, he will make a good, smart, first pass and the Leafs will be able to play fast with him in the lineup.

 

[Mats26]

Muzzin can't process the game at a fast pace. That won't change. Right now he is trying to do too much and looks like he is running around trying to take chances. I am sure the leafs would rather have 30 pts from him and be a steady D instead of trying to hit 40-45pts and take risks getting caught out of position. Reilly is their point producer on the back end, Muzzin should simplify his game.

 

[Rekingsfan17]

Thompson was moved, hope we get a 3rd for Hagelin. Lewis will probably be moved next year. Clifford will stay. Who will be our 4th line center next year JAD\Amadio, UFA like Carpenter??

Can we please sign NCAA College UFA Nico Strum for this.....

 

[DoktorJeep]

Been watching Muzzin the past few games, and last night against the Islanders especially, he looked terrible.

Question for Kings fans? Has his game fallen off that much?

Right now this trade is looking very promising for Blake. He may have unloaded Muzzin at the right time. And based on the Montour trade. Getting 2 prospects, and a first rd pick was a steal.

Muzzin is past his peak, so you need to temper your expectations. At his best, which was around 40 games between 2014 and 2016, he was a solid 2-3, with a penchant for scoring timely goals with a lethal wrister which picked a corner.

My advice is to hold out hope that Babcock gives him appropriate minutes, plays him on his natural handed side and pairs him with a partner who can play back while Muzzin takes risks. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a Muzz + Ron Hainsey platoon for your playoff run.

 

[Steve Zissou]

@The Winter Soldier Looks like your question has been answered ad nauseam, but I would go against the grain here and say that Muzzin should be the anchor on the pairing and let the other D take chances. Muzzin is obviously a bit slow, not only skating but also seems to be 1 step behind the play in thinking the game through. Hence the moniker 'Muffin'. I digress, I preferred Puffin.

For a younger Leafs team that likes to push the play every chance they can get, Muzzin can close the gaps on the other teams forwards when the puck is coming back up on the ice on transition - he's done it extremely well this season before the trade while laying out some pretty big hits (sometimes he likes to sneak backdoor when the puck is in the offensive zone or on the PP, but it requires little effort on his part).

Other than this year, our defense has been pretty stellar with abysmal offense offering little to no help. But it worked, along with Bill Ranford providing some excellent goalie development. Thus, yes our system made Muzzin look good but hopefully Babcock and Co. will let him anchor the back pairing and provide stability rather than trying to make him something that he's not.