October 26: Muzzin has now been placed on LTIR retroactive to October 18, according to CapFriendly. The soonest Muzzin would be eligible to return to the Leafs’ lineup is now November 11, meaning they’ll be without him for at least the next two weeks. Kyle Clifford has also been moved to regular injured reserve, with Filip Kral recalled, filling his roster spot.
October 19: After their minor league club signed Danny DeKeyser to a PTO earlier today, the Toronto Maple Leafs have brought up another AHL defenseman to the active roster. Filip Kral has been recalled, as the team moves Jake Muzzin to injured reserve. Muzzin is out with a neck injury that will keep him out indefinitely.
Kral, meanwhile, could be looking at his first NHL game should he get into the lineup. The 22-year-old defenseman was a fifth-round pick of the team in 2018 and has developed nicely over the years, to the point of being one of the final cuts this fall. The 6’2″ Czech-born defender played three seasons in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs, before returning home to play another year overseas.
Last season, he posted 21 points in 58 games during his first full season with the Toronto Marlies, and now he’s an NHL call-up just a week into the schedule. As David Alter of Sports Illustrated notes, Jordie Benn and Timothy Liljegren are both joining the Maple Leafs’ practice today, though neither can be removed from LTIR until November 5.
That means a little bit of runway for Kral, though it seems likely that Victor Mete will get the first crack with the main group tomorrow night.
I mean it makes sense talks weeks ago were about long term health as In career ending
That was a very poor trade by Dubas and extending him might have been worse.
Muzzin filled a glaring hole and when he was on the ice he provided exactly what they needed. Dubas isn’t a doctor so stupid to blame him
Gave up way too much for a player who’s style historically does not age well.
When you live by the sandpaper, you die by the sandpaper!