There have been many trades so far this season, but with less than a month to go before the NHL Trade Deadline, we finally the first that qualifies as a blockbuster. The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have acquired defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings. Going the other way is a package of forward prospect Carl Grundstrom, defense prospect Sean Durzi, and the Leafs’ 2019 first-round pick. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Toronto GM Kyle Dubas and L.A. GM Rob Blake had been discussing the framework for this deal for weeks before finally pulling the trigger tonight.
Muzzin, 29, is a major addition for the Maple Leafs. Dubas has been searching for help on the blue line all season long and adds a bona fide top-pair defender without having to move any pieces off his NHL roster. Muzzin is a well-rounded and versatile two-way defenseman. Although he is a left-shot, Muzzin often plays his off side and will likely slot next to Morgan Rielly on Toronto’s top pairing. Muzzin will also play a major role on the penalty kill, as he is a tough, durable defenseman who plays a steady game in his own end. Perhaps more than anything, Muzzin is known as a big game player, capable of playing his best when it matters most. Muzzin was a Stanley Cup champion in 2014 with the Kings and has 20 points and 125 hits in 50 playoff games. He has also starred for Canada on the international stage, including a 2015 World Championship in which he notched eight points in ten games. An experienced and clutch defenseman who excels in all three zones, Muzzin is truly a complete defender joining the back end in Toronto. Add in that he makes just $4MM against the cap and is signed for one more year and you get an acquisition that no one in Toronto should be unhappy with.
Los Angeles should be commended for this trade as well, though. Although Muzzin was one of their best players – arguably their top player this season – they maximized the return from a Leafs team that was unwilling to move any current roster players. Grundstrom and Duzri are two of Toronto’s very best prospects and each project to be NHLers sooner rather than later. Grundstrom, 21, was a second-round pick in 2016 out of Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League. In his first season in North America this year, Grundstrom had 29 points in 42 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Grundstrom will now join the Ontario Reign and could see action with the Kings before the season is out. The powerful winger is certain to compete for a regular job in L.A. next year. Durzi, 20, was considered the top overage player in the NHL Draft last year and was selected in the second-round as a result. The skilled defenseman has been better than a point-per-game in the OHL this year after returning from injury and has the experience and intelligent game that should translate to the pros easily next season. As for the first-round pick, the Kings have to hope that Muzzin’s addition isn’t enough to get the Leafs past likely playoff opponents in the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, as Toronto’s pick could still very well end up in the early twenties. If the rest of Blake’s fire sale yields similar returns, L.A. is going to be in good shape moving into their rebuild phase.
Seems like a lot for Muzzin but Maybe it’s just because I’m a pretty big fan of Durzi.
Love the fact that he is going to be with Rielly, really hope this means gardiner is gone soon and at the very least move zaitsev onto the 3rd pairing and cut his minutes way down
Blake finally did something great as GM. Now trade carter, quick, Martinez, toffoli
yea durzi will be good, but I like Bobcats perspective that prospects are almost never valued higher than when they are prospects. leafs got a sure thing for 1.5 years at least, and it fits better with the timing of the cap crunch now as opposed to in 2-3 years
Thank you Muzzy. This was a move that was bound to happen.
Love that we didn’t need to include either Johnsson or Kapanen. Fair price for a solid top pairing D.
Will miss you buddy
Finally the Leafs have one Jake who can play defence.
Small window for a cup run. Had to make this deal
In 3 years and Mathews, Marner, Nylander are making huge $ this will be a similar, yet possibly weaker on D/goaltending team
Ehhh not a terrible return. Not a huge fan of either leafs prospects, as Durzi likely projects as a 3rd line, power sort of player (speed/skill aren’t exactly his game) and the kings have plenty of that. Blake will really need to nail the draft pick, wherever it ends up being. Can’t be another Vilardi….
The two top prospects seemed like a even deal, but the first rd pick is huge for LA.
They didn’t get one “top” prospect… sorry to burst your bubble. We’re likely talking about S third line forward and a third pairing D that can maybe pitch in on the power play. Durzi has the potential to be a good puck mover, but he’s a long way from being a finished product and has a lot of growing to do before he can make any impact at the pro level. It’s a good return for the Kings, but let’s not get carried a way. It’s a low first round pick and two depth prospects.
Agree. I’m not thrilled with the return, but it’s likely the best they were gonna get for Muzzin. I think you’re spot on with the prospect assessment, 3rd line forward (at best… and that’s optimistic)… doesn’t bring what the Kings need (speed and skill…. I sound repetitive because I’ve posted that a million times, including before the season… and guess what… it’s showing to be true again). All scouts, analysts, etc say the same… the team needs a serious influx of speed and skill. I love kopitar, maybe the best of top 3-4 two-way players in the game…. but if he is your biggest threat on offense, that is NOT a good sign. He’s a possession, puck control down low guy… in a league that is changing to speed with the puck through the neutral zone. He’s awesome, again, don’t get me wrong. But if that’s our big threat on the Kings…. that’s bad. He needs skill/speed players around him… and he has NOBODY. This trade does not address that unless Blake absolutely nails the draft pick…. that’s a big if.
Good for the Leafs. Feels like LA should have held out for more than this package of mediocrity (late 1st-rounder notwithstanding.) But jumping a trade this early means this must have been as good as they were going to get for Muzzin. Which makes me wonder what that means for the proper trade deadline.
They should have held out for a player(s) currently on the roster plus pick. Why in such a hurry with a month to go?
^ the hurry? It’s time for full tank mode for the kings. What seemed like a lock for the worst record (and likely #1 overall pick) is turning towards looking like the AVALANCHE could receive that pick. Can you imagine THAT young, skilled team adding Hughes as the #1 pick?!?! Yikes!! (Colorado has the pick from Ottawa). And New Jersey is also ahead of LA in the Hughes sweepstakes…. although the leads aren’t huge with season still to play. But at this point, it’s time to tank. That’s likely not the reason they did this trade, although it probably factored in a little bit. The main reason is probably because this is about as good as they will get for Muzzin. He’s a minutes eater, solid but not great defender. The front office likely saw this as the best they could do…. they better nail that late draft pick from the leafs…. they need it
As stated before they need speed and skill, these 2 prospects are not that.
Correct, I also stated above their need for speed and skill. But regardless of their need for that, if this is the best deal they can get, they have to take it. Muzzin is gone in 1 1/2 years anyways, and the kings aren’t competing by then. Muzzin’s value wasn’t going to suddenly increase a bunch. He’s not one of the top defensemen in the league, he’s a solid second pairing option, nothing overwhelming. Aside from speed/skill, the Kings also need youth. Carter, kavalchyuk, brown, Lewis, Clifford, even kopitar…. these are not young players on the kings roster. It’s an aging team. So yes, while the “prospects” returned don’t address the speed and skill this team desperately needs, it at least addresses their need for youth. Like it’s been said, the forward prospect is likely a 3rd liner at best…. and that’s ok that he doesn’t have great speed/skill there. It’s ok to have some of the grinder/puck control/possession guys…. which that prospect is. The problem for the kings right now is that’s ALL they have. So this young player is ok being that, as long as they also address the speed and skill elsewhere. A young potential 3rd line player isn’t a terrible thing to have. So it really comes down to A) this is probably the best offer the Kings received and B) they have to NAIL the draft pick
I want a goalie, Reimer or Luongo, not Quick or Howard
I would like Lundqvist but he has a no-trade clause
If you need a goalie and your a playoff team Quick should be your first choice. Its not even close
^yep. Although it would cost a lot more to get quick than the others. So that might be the thinking… I’m of the opinion the kings should trade quick…. but it would really cost a team quite a bit. Much better deal than they received for muzzin
with the kings clearly out of it and a number of potential pieces to move (Quick, Carter, Dion, Haguelin, Thompson, toffoli) you have to make moves early. can’t trade everyone in the two weeks leading up to the deadline.
the kings weren’t getting a 1st and a roster player. give credit to them for getting the ball rolling and to Toronto for having started this dialogue about Muzzin weeks ago and getting the deal done in advance.
And my point is that they may have gotten a better package by waiting teams out at the deadline. Although this deal may have been gone I don’t think it’s unreasonable to believe a similar deal could have been obtained. And not sure why they did not insist a NHL ready player(s). To your point, I don’t have confidence Blake et al. will nail a draft pick that is likely to be a late first rounder. This is the regime that drafted an injured player with their first pick.
^ oh I agree on that… I think Blake and company have butchered this franchise. I think Vilardi, even if healthy, was a terrible draft pick. I just happen to think this is probably the best offer they could get for Muzzin. On the other hand, if Blake and company are smart (which they haven’t been so far), the trading of muzzin should AUTOMATICALLY make them ask more if Martinez is on the block. Reason being, is that there really aren’t a ton more reliable options at defense on the market (or at least to have been reported to be available so far). After muzzin, there aren’t a ton of great options left. For teams looking for minute eaters…. now that they moved muzzin, the demand for Martinez will be higher than before. Probably still doesn’t fetch what muzzin just fetched…. but with muzzin off the market, it should raise martinez’ reported asking price of just a second round pick. Supply/demand. Supply just took a hit with muzzin being traded…. for teams wanting reliable “top two line” defensemen…. Martinez’ price just went up.
To your other point, yeah I don’t have a ton of faith that Blake will hit on the draft pick. I think he’s been a terrible GM. Although, admittedly, last years draft class was better than previous drafts
All this talk of quick getting traded is delusional speak. Hes not gonna get traded as goaltenders age well especially elite ones like quick. Also he has a resonable cap hit for the next 3/4 years not gonna get delt. The players you move are carter, kopitar, toffoli, brown, kovalchuk, martinez. Need to go into full on tank mode, and get jack hughes and go sign coach q. Build around picks and young players like hughes and move on.
I mean i think blake and luke are homers just like the next guy but they have been here only 1 and a half years. I think the jury is still out on how well they drafted, jad looks pretty amazing and so does matt vilata the goalie and kale clague. I think everyone is too critical on the return for muzzin a stay at home defender whom has little to no puck moving skills. He is quiet frankly one of the worst puck movers i have seen with bricks for hands. I think they would be wise to have coach q come in and establish him as the guy whom oversees drafts etc. he built blackhawks from ground up around guys like towes and kane. He could do the same with hughes and jad. Just saying
If you think Rob Blake is a bad GM then hire Brian Burke and see what happens next lol