Leafs Acquire Jake Muzzin

[CarltonTheBear]

So I take it Oz joins Marincin and Holl in the pressbox? Doesn't someone need to be waived?

They probably have some time if Johnsson and/or Gardiner are still hurt and can go on the IR, but yeah one of Marincin or Holl will almost definitely be waived soon.

 

[Strangelove]

Hard to argue with this move. The addition of a physical defenceman with offensive upside and the reduction in Hainsey's icetime are two huge pluses.

This clearly means Gardiner is out the door barring something unexpected, which is too bad. He's been underappreciated and his skillset will be sorely missed when it's gone.

This also clearly means the team is trying to win now. One playoff round and out will no longer cut it.

 

[lc9]

Great move.  Solidify the D, moves Hainsey down and likely means the end of Gardiners tenure is near.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

So I take it Oz joins Marincin and Holl in the pressbox? Doesn't someone need to be waived?

They probably have some time if Johnsson and/or Gardiner are still hurt and can go on the IR, but yeah one of Marincin or Holl will almost definitely be waived soon.

Based on usage, I'd guess Holl is the odd man out.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Hard to argue with this move. The addition of a physical defenceman with offensive upside and the reduction in Hainsey's icetime are two huge pluses.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Muzzin plays a particularly physical game. But yes, Hainsey is far more appropriate on the 3rd pairing.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Hard to argue with this move. The addition of a physical defenceman with offensive upside and the reduction in Hainsey's icetime are two huge pluses.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Muzzin plays a particularly physical game. But yes, Hainsey is far more appropriate on the 3rd pairing.

It's not the first thing you think of when you hear his name but he throws a surprising amount of hits. He's been top-20 in that category among defencemen in pretty much every season he's played.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/TheLeafsIMO/status/1090055359790690304

Some BIG hits here. I knew a bit about Muzzin prior to this but it was mostly that he was a good puck mover with a history of great possession stats. I never really knew he had this in his game as well.

 

[cujo4ever]

https://twitter.com/TheLeafsIMO/status/1090055359790690304

Some BIG hits here. I knew a bit about Muzzin prior to this but it was mostly that he was a good puck mover with a history of great possession stats. I never really knew he had this in his game as well.

Me likey

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

Muzzin has registered 111 hits in 50 games this year.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

On the face of it, this looks like a better deal than the McDonagh one (for the slightly better player to boot).

Is Muzzin actually better than McDonagh though? I know his advanced stats are great but McDonagh is no slouch himself.

If this is true then the trade looks that much better. Tampa gave up two firsts, a recent first round pick and a recent second round pick (plus the Miller-Namestnikov swap)

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/iangraph/status/1090048563332055040
https://twitter.com/billius27/status/1083054144259325953

 

[Frank E]

He takes some PIMs too...maybe he does play with an edge?

I really don't know anything about him.

 

[Kin]

Is Muzzin actually better than McDonagh though? I know his advanced stats are great but McDonagh is no slouch himself.

If this is true then the trade looks that much better. Tampa gave up two firsts, a recent first round pick and a recent second round pick (plus the Miller-Namestnikov swap)

It's only two firsts if Tampa wins the Cup this year. Otherwise, it's a 1st and a second. And I don't think it was a straight Miller-Namestnikov swap as Miller's bigger, with a better offensive track record and can play the middle. Some of the Howden, Hajek and picks package were to get Miller as well.

 

[Kin]

He takes some PIMs too...maybe he does play with an edge?

I really don't know anything about him.

He increases the rings in the room by 200%.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is Muzzin actually better than McDonagh though? I know his advanced stats are great but McDonagh is no slouch himself.

If this is true then the trade looks that much better. Tampa gave up two firsts, a recent first round pick and a recent second round pick (plus the Miller-Namestnikov swap)

I'd probably take McDonagh over Muzzin but yeah Tampa gave up an additional draft pick (2nd rounder that could turn into a 1st if Tampa wins the Cup this season) and one of the prospects they gave up is way better than either of the ones the Leafs did (Brett Howden).

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Is Muzzin actually better than McDonagh though? I know his advanced stats are great but McDonagh is no slouch himself.

If this is true then the trade looks that much better. Tampa gave up two firsts, a recent first round pick and a recent second round pick (plus the Miller-Namestnikov swap)

It's only two firsts if Tampa wins the Cup this year. Otherwise, it's a 1st and a second. And I don't think it was a straight Miller-Namestnikov swap as Miller's bigger, with a better offensive track record and can play the middle. Some of the Howden, Hajek and picks package were to get Miller as well.

Thanks, didn't know the second first was conditional. Kind of nice the Leafs didn't have to include something like that too though.

I thought it was namestnikov that could play centre and that's why the Rangers wanted him? I know Miller has worked out really well for Tampa, but at the time I remember people saying he was more of a throw in

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Is Muzzin actually better than McDonagh though? I know his advanced stats are great but McDonagh is no slouch himself.

If this is true then the trade looks that much better. Tampa gave up two firsts, a recent first round pick and a recent second round pick (plus the Miller-Namestnikov swap)

I'd probably take McDonagh over Muzzin but yeah Tampa gave up an additional draft pick (2nd rounder that could turn into a 1st if Tampa wins the Cup this season) and one of the prospects they gave up is way better than either of the ones the Leafs did (Brett Howden).

Here's hoping Muzzin signs a better contract extension than McDonagh. His seemed pretty high at the time, at the very least it should set a cap on Muzzin's next deal

 

[Kin]

I thought it was namestnikov that could play centre and that's why the Rangers wanted him? I know Miller has worked out really well for Tampa, but at the time I remember people saying he was more of a throw in

Miller was coming off back to back 22 goal seasons(and 56 points) and when he got traded he had 40 points in 63 games with a 54.3 FO%.

I can't say with certainty how those trade talks worked but a 25 year old with size and a bunch of 20 goal seasons down the middle is a heck of a throw in.

 

[Zee]

Still have to get rid of Zaitsev

 

[groundskeeper willie]

I thought it was namestnikov that could play centre and that's why the Rangers wanted him? I know Miller has worked out really well for Tampa, but at the time I remember people saying he was more of a throw in

Miller was coming off back to back 22 goal seasons(and 56 points) and when he got traded he had 40 points in 63 games with a 54.3 FO%.

I can't say with certainty how those trade talks worked but a 25 year old with size and a bunch of 20 goal seasons down the middle is a heck of a throw in.

I was just going by memory, entirely possible I had it wrong.

Either way, if Muzzin and McDonagh are very comparable players than it's hard to argue to Leafs gave up too much. I don't know much about him and remember being surprised when he made the World Cup team, thinking he was just Doughty's Kuntiz