Player Discussion: Jake Muzzin

[supermann_98]

Judging by Marner’s comment after the game it doesn’t sound good, talking about life after hockey with his family, etc.

3 concussions in 8 months with a 4th concussion only a small glancing elbow away. Time to grab a mojito and kick the feet up on the sandy beaches of Robidas island.

Dubas may actually have a chance here to replace him with someone who can play and hopefully be a RHD, while at the same time trade away more 1st rounders which is a favourite past time of his

 

[Twine Tickler]

he had a steep decline last year after subtly sliding from his peak LA days

Muzz had some quality years with us too. As one poster said already, he was basically our entire D for a couple years. I wish him nothing but the best, but this injury might be it for him. He really needs to consider life after hockey.

As for us, I think we will be just fine with Gio and Sandin filling in the left side. Of course adding a bigger, more reliable RHD would be ideal, but not exactly easy to find as well. It might just end up being shit or get off the potty time for timmy when he comes back. I think he is ready for a bigger role personally.

Rielly - Brodie
Gio - Timmy
Sandin - Holl
Benn/Mete

 

[Clark4Ever]

Muzz had some quality years with us too. As one poster said already, he was basically our entire D for a couple years. I wish him nothing but the best, but this injury might be it for him. He really needs to consider life after hockey.

As for us, I think we will be just fine with Gio and Sandin filling in the left side. Of course adding a bigger, more reliable RHD would be ideal, but not exactly easy to find as well. It might just end up being shit or get off the potty time for timmy when he comes back. I think he is ready for a bigger role personally.

Rielly - Brodie
Gio - Timmy
Sandin - Holl
Benn/Mete

Agreed. Muzzin was a borderline liability out there playing at less than 100%.

The good news is that if he does have to stay on LTIR long term at some point, his cap space would be very useful.

 

[hotpaws]

Muzz had some quality years with us too. As one poster said already, he was basically our entire D for a couple years. I wish him nothing but the best, but this injury might be it for him. He really needs to consider life after hockey.

As for us, I think we will be just fine with Gio and Sandin filling in the left side. Of course adding a bigger, more reliable RHD would be ideal, but not exactly easy to find as well. It might just end up being shit or get off the potty time for timmy when he comes back. I think he is ready for a bigger role personally.

Rielly - Brodie
Gio - Timmy
Sandin - Holl
Benn/Mete

i never said he didn't . he played very well for us when we first acquired him under his old deal which had a year and change left but with 2 playoffs in that time frame

also his first year under his new deal was good but the thing is he wasn't peak LA Muzzin up until this season like some seem to think

he's been effective but gently declining for a number of years up until last year when there was a steep drop . he bounced back a little in the last playoffs but he was still slower

there's no shame in admitting a player declines with age which some seem to believe

 

[Funk21]

He needs to hang them up at this point. His brain health is nothing to play with. He is still very young and has a family he needs to be there for. I get the competitive juice still flow but he could be in real danger attempting to continue.

While it would suck to loose his leadership in the room we could use the cap space and present player with an opportunity to step up or facilitate a trade.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Doesn't look great for Muzzin which is a shame. He really needs to sit back and consider quality of life after hockey.
There's nobody i can think of we could acquire in a trade to replace him atm. Maybe as teams fade out of the playoff race somebody adequate will become available. So just ride it out and don't make a crazy overpay trade.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I honestly think that the plan all along was to have Muzzin and Murray end up on LTIRetirement by the TDL. Leafs are going to have a TON of cap space to add at the TDL. They will need at least 1 top 4 dman (probably the best dman they can find) and then will prob have enough to add a 4-5M forward if Samsonov has established himself. Otherwise I suspect we use the money on a goalie.

I honestly believe Woll ends up as our backup once he is back and healthy and shows promise. Samsonov is good enough for us and winning us games with some crazy elite stretches. I think we go all in and try to land someone like Patrick Kane @ 50% retained (and I think they move Knies to do it. Let's be real he is not taking a job from a Leaf this season and is probably a few years away from hitting his potential and we need to WIN NOW) and the best dman they can. Two block busters. Drain the cupboards, do what the Panthers did. Just win something before the core is blown up. I think the org is truly all in.

 

[Enniskillen]

Get well Muzzy, you are one of the few with the balls on this ballet team.

 

[Jozay]

Washed king, we'll always have the memories

 

[WTFMAN99]

For the better of his health, just stand aside.

He's a good guy, I would have zero issue in keeping him around for a post-career type role with our young defenseman. He played the right way and was smart, body gave up on him.

 

[hotpaws]

I honestly think that the plan all along was to have Muzzin and Murray end up on LTIRetirement by the TDL. Leafs are going to have a TON of cap space to add at the TDL. They will need at least 1 top 4 dman (probably the best dman they can find) and then will prob have enough to add a 4-5M forward if Samsonov has established himself. Otherwise I suspect we use the money on a goalie.

I honestly believe Woll ends up as our backup once he is back and healthy and shows promise. Samsonov is good enough for us and winning us games with some crazy elite stretches. I think we go all in and try to land someone like Patrick Kane @ 50% retained (and I think they move Knies to do it. Let's be real he is not taking a job from a Leaf this season and is probably a few years away from hitting his potential and we need to WIN NOW) and the best dman they can. Two block busters. Drain the cupboards, do what the Panthers did. Just win something before the core is blown up. I think the org is truly all in.

if the plan was to have Murray on LTIR then they wouldn't have traded for him and just signed a another cheaper b/u and left us a few million under the cap even with a healthy Lilly

Murray was well down on the list of tenders Dubas wanted but when the market dried up he shit himself and made the trade .

 

[HockeyVirus]

if the plan was to have Murray on LTIR then they wouldn't have traded for him and just signed a another cheaper b/u and left us a few million under the cap even with a healthy Lilly

Murray was well down on the list of tenders Dubas wanted but when the market dried up he shit himself and made the trade .

Well no because that was too much risk. Getting Murray there is a chance of having a goalie revive their career who has won 2 cups in net. If he plays to his potential, then great. But if he falters or can't stay healthy, I think Murray and the Leafs are in agreement he goes to Robidas Island and the Leafs use his cap space to upgrade the team

 

[hotpaws]

Well no because that was too much risk. Getting Murray there is a chance of having a goalie revive their career who has won 2 cups in net. If he plays to his potential, then great. But if he falters or can't stay healthy, I think Murray and the Leafs are in agreement he goes to Robidas Island and the Leafs use his cap space to upgrade the team

either you believe the plan all along was to have him on the ltir like you originally posted or the plan was he hopefully stayed healthy and rediscovered his game from 6 yrs ago , you can't have it both ways

now if your point was supposed to be that there's a silver lining if he winds up on ltir then that's a different discussion

 

[All Mod Cons]

I honestly think that the plan all along was to have Muzzin and Murray end up on LTIRetirement by the TDL. Leafs are going to have a TON of cap space to add at the TDL. They will need at least 1 top 4 dman (probably the best dman they can find) and then will prob have enough to add a 4-5M forward if Samsonov has established himself. Otherwise I suspect we use the money on a goalie.

I honestly believe Woll ends up as our backup once he is back and healthy and shows promise. Samsonov is good enough for us and winning us games with some crazy elite stretches. I think we go all in and try to land someone like Patrick Kane @ 50% retained (and I think they move Knies to do it. Let's be real he is not taking a job from a Leaf this season and is probably a few years away from hitting his potential and we need to WIN NOW) and the best dman they can. Two block busters. Drain the cupboards, do what the Panthers did. Just win something before the core is blown up. I think the org is truly all in.

Ends of the earth.

 

[HockeyVirus]

either you believe the plan all along was to have him on the ltir like you originally posted or the plan was he hopefully stayed healthy and rediscovered his game from 6 yrs ago , you can't have it both ways

now if your point was supposed to be that there's a silver lining if he winds up on ltir then that's a different discussion

No I am saying the plan all along was to have Murray try and re-establish his career and have a chance to play meaningful hockey for a contender and the chance to do what others couldn't and win the Leafs a round. However in the event he was very bad or injured, there was an understanding he would retire and collect paychecks and no one would question it given his health history.

It's too early to say which happens, but my thoughts are Murray can't stay healthy enough to get it done and I think Dubas felt that was the probable outcome as well. But the way he set himself up is he had 2 swings with goalies, and if they both missed, he would be able to address it easily with cap space. And if he felt he had 2 starting goalies, great! But most likely Murray would be on LTIR and he would have cap space to address the roster.

 

[TheVision]

If only they could convert Douglas into a Defenseman.

 

[Aashir]

Muzz had some quality years with us too. As one poster said already, he was basically our entire D for a couple years. I wish him nothing but the best, but this injury might be it for him. He really needs to consider life after hockey.

As for us, I think we will be just fine with Gio and Sandin filling in the left side. Of course adding a bigger, more reliable RHD would be ideal, but not exactly easy to find as well. It might just end up being shit or get off the potty time for timmy when he comes back. I think he is ready for a bigger role personally.

Rielly - Brodie
Gio - Timmy
Sandin - Holl
Benn/Mete

That D-corp is not that strong, Giordano should not be playing top 4 minutes consistently, we would probably still want another top 4 D, preferably LHD to play there instead and shift gio to third pairing and holl out of the lineup

 

[horner]

It to bad that Dubas doesn't think ahead.
He is always thinking offense at the draft table

2018 3 spots after Sandin we could have drafted
Matthias Samuelson, Ulf Samuelson's son
6'4 200lbs shut down defender

2020 1 spot after Amirov we could have drafted Guhle
Playing for Montreal this yr.
I wanted us to draft a dman that yr

Now Muzzin may be finished.

That D-corp is not that strong, Giordano should not be playing top 4 minutes consistently, we would probably still want another top 4 D, preferably LHD to play there instead and shift gio to third pairing and holl out of the lineup

We don't have a playoff defense without Muzzin .

 

[1specter]

Muzzin was an excellent defenseman when healthy and in his prime. He was honestly a breath of fresh air when we first acquired him, it's just a shame he's taken so much damage since then. I think his long term health needs to be prioritized at this point and it may be time for him to step away. Wish him the best in his recovery and hope he can still have a good quality of life after all this.

The long term prospects of our defense is certainly looking concerning now though. We only have Rielly locked up and are banking big on development from Sandin and Liljegren. Everyone else is off the books by 2024... Really hope Niemela and some other kids step up or we make some shrewd acquisitions.

 

[hullsy47]

Muzzin was an excellent defenseman when healthy and in his prime. He was honestly a breath of fresh air when we first acquired him, it's just a shame he's taken so much damage since then. I think his long term health needs to be prioritized at this point and it may be time for him to step away. Wish him the best in his recovery and hope he can still have a good quality of life after all this.

The long term prospects of our defense is certainly looking concerning now though. We only have Rielly locked up and are banking big on development from Sandin and Liljegren. Everyone else is off the books by 2024... Really hope Niemela and some other kids step up or we make some shrewd acquisitions.

A new gm will rebuild around Reilly

 

[notbias]

i never said he didn't . he played very well for us when we first acquired him under his old deal which had a year and change left but with 2 playoffs in that time frame

also his first year under his new deal was good but the thing is he wasn't peak LA Muzzin up until this season like some seem to think

he's been effective but gently declining for a number of years up until last year when there was a steep drop . he bounced back a little in the last playoffs but he was still slower

there's no shame in admitting a player declines with age which some seem to believe

he was arguably our best D last playoffs if playoffs mean anything.

I don't think he is declining much, and if he can come back healthy, I'd still want him, he proved he has good play left only like 5 months ago.

It to bad that Dubas doesn't think ahead.
He is always thinking offense at the draft table

2018 3 spots after Sandin we could have drafted
Matthias Samuelson, Ulf Samuelson's son
6'4 200lbs shut down defender
Ian not a scout but just knowing who his father is, I would have taken chance

2020 1 spot after Amirov we could have drafted Guhle
Playing for Montreal this yr.
I wanted us to draft a dman that yr

Now Muzzin may be finished.


We don't have a playoff defense without Muzzin .

Amirov >>>>>> Guhle

not sure I'd use "playing for Montreal" as a sign that he is a good player (not saying he is bad)... look at their D.

 

[rocketman588]

he was arguably our best D last playoffs if playoffs mean anything.

I don't think he is declining much, and if he can come back healthy, I'd still want him, he proved he has good play left only like 5 months ago.



Amirov >>>>>> Guhle

not sure I'd use "playing for Montreal" as a sign that he is a good player (not saying he is bad)... look at their D.

I agree that Muzzin was great in the playoffs but Ghule is significantly better then Amirov. I actually think the biggest mistake we made this off season was finding a stay at home D man so we could keep the Muzzin-Brodie pairing

Even discounting the Brian tumor Ghule was a first pairing D on the initial team Canada WJC team and was whl playoff mvp

He's also currently excelling on a shit team while Amirov may never play NHL hockey.

He would be in our top 4 right now ( even without injuries)

 

[Stephen]

I honestly think that the plan all along was to have Muzzin and Murray end up on LTIRetirement by the TDL. Leafs are going to have a TON of cap space to add at the TDL. They will need at least 1 top 4 dman (probably the best dman they can find) and then will prob have enough to add a 4-5M forward if Samsonov has established himself. Otherwise I suspect we use the money on a goalie.

I honestly believe Woll ends up as our backup once he is back and healthy and shows promise. Samsonov is good enough for us and winning us games with some crazy elite stretches. I think we go all in and try to land someone like Patrick Kane @ 50% retained (and I think they move Knies to do it. Let's be real he is not taking a job from a Leaf this season and is probably a few years away from hitting his potential and we need to WIN NOW) and the best dman they can. Two block busters. Drain the cupboards, do what the Panthers did. Just win something before the core is blown up. I think the org is truly all in.

The problem with this plan is if we walk into the trade deadline with cap space, we still need to put together a package that looked like the Muzzin deal to get a Muzzin replacement. Could have avoided some of these issues if we had just LTIR'ed him to begin with or traded him during the summer so we could have had a chance at a UFA replacement.

 

[Stephen]

I agree that Muzzin was great in the playoffs but Ghule is significantly better then Amirov. I actually think the biggest mistake we made this off season was finding a stay at home D man so we could keep the Muzzin-Brodie pairing

Even discounting the Brian tumor Ghule was a first pairing D on the initial team Canada WJC team and was whl playoff mvp

He's also currently excelling on a shit team while Amirov may never play NHL hockey.

He would be in our top 4 right now ( even without injuries)

Guhle and Schneider will both grow into the kind of defenseman you wonder how to get your hands on. The answer is you draft them from time to time and have them coming up in your pipeline.

 

[cyris]

It to bad that Dubas doesn't think ahead.
He is always thinking offense at the draft table

2018 3 spots after Sandin we could have drafted
Matthias Samuelson, Ulf Samuelson's son
6'4 200lbs shut down defender
Ian not a scout but just knowing who his father is, I would have taken chance

2020 1 spot after Amirov we could have drafted Guhle
Playing for Montreal this yr.
I wanted us to draft a dman that yr

Now Muzzin may be finished.


We don't have a playoff defense without Muzzin .

Matthias isn’t Ulf’s son. They aren’t even related.