Darren Dreger was on OverDrive with Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill, and Jamie McLennan this week and discussed what happens next with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jake Muzzin. When asked if he thought the Leafs should try to flip the defenseman because it’s not clear when he’ll be able to return and how healthy he’ll be for the Leafs even when he can come back, Dreger noted that it probably isn’t an option.
The NHL insider said he was doing his due diligence preparing for trade deadlines and he noted he flipped Muzzin’s name out there privately to a few teams he knew would be looking to upgrade their defense. They said they would have been interested, but Muzzin’s health concerns are just too big a risk. Even for teams that are now facing issues because of early injuries in the season, there aren’t takers out there on the market and Muzzin’s final two seasons at $5.625 million are likely going to be sticking in Toronto.
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic writes that this puts the Leafs in a tricky spot. First, Muzzin’s health is of real concern on a human level. But, from a team management standpoint, he’s not yet on LTIR which means the Leafs can’t use the space freed up by his salary to make other moves. That handcuffs a team that is absolutely stuck in the mud when it comes to adding a legit NHL defender to its roster.
Siegel writes:
“The uncertain nature of Muzzin’s injury, and return, means the Leafs have to at least start contemplating whether they need to add another defenceman at some point. And not a Danny DeKeyser-level depth defender but someone more substantial who can play in their top four.”
Maple Leafs Will Have To Wait This Out
Dreger notes that Dubas has been looking for quite some time for an upgrade. But, because he would have to give up pieces of value to get anything of value, it’s too early in the season for most teams to be willing to move anything significant.
The Leafs are going to be super cautious and Dreger expects this injury is going linger and that Muzzin will be out for a long, long time.
Afp1961
October 21, 2022 at 3:27 pm
If Muzzin is out for a long long time as you say” that means LTIR. Leafs would be wise to shut him down fully for the regular season and revisit his health at the playoffs. Meanwhile this clears cap space to go get Chychrun for two first round pucks and maybe a B level prospect on the Marlies.